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June 1 — The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has officially granted Geographical Indication (GI) status to Guimaras Mangoes, marking the country’s first-ever registered GI. This recognition is not only a milestone in Philippine intellectual property protection but also a turning point for Guimaras farmers, who have fought for nearly a decade to secure this recognition.
With the GI seal now in place, Felipe Z. Gamarcha, President of the Guimaras Mango Growers and Producers Development Cooperative (GMGPDC), expects farmgate prices to rise significantly. Before the cooperative obtained a collective mark in 2017, mangoes were sold for as low as ₱20 to ₱50 per kilo. By 2022, prices had already climbed to ₱200 per kilo, and with the GI, farmers anticipate prices could nearly double, ensuring much higher incomes for producers.
A GI is an intellectual property right under IPOPHL that certifies a product’s unique qualities, reputation, and link to its place of origin. Unlike ordinary trademarks, GIs emphasize cultural heritage, soil, climate, and local expertise.
The Manual of Specifications (MOP) registered with IPOPHL details strict cultivation methods, post-harvest handling, and packaging rules to ensure only genuine Guimaras mangoes carry the GI seal.
While this registration strengthens protection, infringement remains a major issue. Traders have long been passing off ordinary mangoes as “Guimaras Mangoes.” Such practices harm both farmers and consumers by diluting the reputation of the genuine product.
This is not an isolated case. At a forum, Camiguin lanzones growers also raised similar concerns about deceptive marketing. Globally, infringement of GIs is widespread. For instance, in the European Union, studies show that 60% of craft and food producers report experiencing GI misappropriation.
Under Philippine law, enforcement mechanisms for GIs are still developing. IPOPHL’s Bureau of Trademarks (BOT) and Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA) handle opposition and infringement disputes. However, as Director Jesus Antonio Z. Ros of BOT has emphasized, the Philippines needs a sui generis GI law to provide stronger protection, treating GI violations as crimes against the economic and cultural interests of the State.
The GI protection of Guimaras mangoes also intersects with copyright and traditional knowledge. The branding, packaging designs, and promotional materials created by farmer cooperatives are protected under copyright law. Moreover, festivals like Manggahan Festival, which celebrate mango culture through art, dance, and literature, also fall under copyright-protected works.
By combining copyright with GI protection, communities can safeguard not just the product but also the cultural expressions and creative works surrounding it.
The Philippines, through IPOPHL, is preparing to accede to the 2015 Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement, which provides international GI protection across 70+ member countries. If successful, Guimaras Mangoes could enjoy indefinite global recognition, unlike certification marks that require renewal every 10 years.
This move builds on IPOPHL’s pipeline of 30 potential GIs, including Davao cacao, Bicol pili, and Cordillera coffee. For farmers, this means opportunities to expand exports, as Guimaras Mangoes have already entered Switzerland, Dubai, Korea, and the Czech Republic.
The Philippines’ GI journey mirrors India’s Darjeeling Tea case, one of the world’s most famous GIs. Darjeeling faced rampant misuse until the Tea Board of India actively enforced its rights worldwide. Similarly, Guimaras mangoes must now build a strong enforcement framework, supported by IPOPHL and local government units, to combat counterfeiting.
The recognition of Guimaras Mangoes as the Philippines’ first GI is more than a legal milestone. It is a cultural and economic victory for local farmers, offering protection against misuse, raising incomes, and boosting the country’s agricultural reputation on the world stage.
As IPOPHL strengthens the GI framework and pursues the Geneva Act, Guimaras mangoes may well set the blueprint for protecting other Filipino products — from Camiguin lanzones to Sagada coffee — ensuring that the Philippines’ heritage and creativity gain both domestic and international respect.
✅ This rewrite is natural, IPOPHL-focused, includes enforcement context, copyright dimensions, and a global case comparison.