BARMM to establish IP office for entrepreneurs, creators

Entrepreneurs, creators and innovators in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will soon gain easier access to intellectual property (IP) services through a new partnership with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), supporting efforts to accelerate regional economic growth.

Under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed last week, IPOPHL and BARMM will establish an IP Nexus Office that will serve as a regional hub for filing IP applications and assisting entrepreneurs, inventors and businesses in protecting their intellectual property.

Unlike IPOPHL’s satellite offices, where agency field specialists operate IP help desks, the BARMM facility will be managed and funded by the region’s Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT).

IPOPHL will provide technical assistance and staff training to support the office’s operations.

The partnership comes as BARMM’s economy continues to expand, growing by 5% in 2025 from 3.5% in 2024, making it the sixth-fastest-growing region among the country’s 18 regions, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The region’s gross regional domestic product reached PHP 266.59 billion in 2025 at constant 2018 prices, reflecting continued economic activity and investment opportunities.

IPOPHL’s support complements BARMM’s efforts to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) following the recent establishment of an MSME Development Council and ongoing work to complete the Bangsamoro MSME Development Plan 2026-2030.

The agreement formalizes years of collaboration between IPOPHL and the Bangsamoro government, particularly in using intellectual property protection to preserve the region’s cultural products and traditional industries.

Among the sectors being explored under the partnership is the regional textile industry, where policymakers see opportunities to use geographical indications (GIs) to strengthen market recognition and protect traditional weaving practices.

Geographical indications identify products whose distinct qualities, characteristics or reputation are associated with a particular geographic origin, helping producers distinguish authentic regional goods from competing products.

Potential beneficiaries include producers of Inaul textiles from Maguindanao, Langkit from Lanao del Sur, Tennun from Basilan, Tepo from Tawi-Tawi and Monom woven fabrics of the Teduray people.

Protecting these traditional textiles through appropriate IP mechanisms could help local artisans strengthen product identity, improve market access and preserve cultural heritage while expanding economic opportunities.

IPOPHL also committed to strengthening connections between local businesses and the region’s Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSOs), which provide technical assistance and access to patent information for researchers, inventors and innovators.

The agency will also support BARMM in expanding assistance for inventors, developing IP-related policies and conducting training programs.

IPOPHL Director General Teodoro C. Pascua said the partnership aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of a “strong, autonomous, and peaceful” Bangsamoro, particularly as the region enters a new phase of parliamentary governance.

The agreement comes amid a historic political transition following BARMM’s first regular parliamentary elections on Sept. 14, 2026, and the inaugural session of its first elected Parliament on Oct. 30.

The transition ended more than seven years of governance by the appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority and placed the region’s legislative leadership in the hands of elected representatives.

Pascua emphasized that sustained economic development requires institutions and programs capable of delivering benefits beyond individual administrations.

“We are looking at prospects for long-term prosperity for the Bangsamoro, and this requires consistency and continuity beyond any individual intervention,” Pascua said.

“To reach this, we must first establish a strong base on which we can build our efforts over time.”

BARMM Trade, Investments and Tourism Minister Farserina Mohammad emphasized that the partnership’s ultimate goal is to deliver meaningful benefits to communities across the region.

“More than anything, it is the communities that will benefit from this agreement,” Minister Farserina Mohammad said.

“They are the guiding star of this partnership.” (Rawl Maliwat, Communications & Marketing Writer)