Naval: The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI), has unveiled a comprehensive program aimed at developing the agarwood industry in Naval, Biliran. This initiative is in collaboration with Roving Agriventures Incorporated (RAI) and was officially introduced with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, marking a partnership between government agencies and the private sector.

According to Philippines News Agency, the program seeks to establish a sustainable, science-driven, and high-value agarwood industry that can provide livelihood opportunities while promoting responsible resource management in the province. The DOST regional office emphasized that the initiative will involve the DOST-FPRDI leading research, technology transfer, and specialized training. Furthermore, DOST's field office in Biliran will coordinate activities related to science, technology, and innovation across the region. RAI will concentrate on sustainable farming practices and community engagement, consistent with its advocacy to 'transform lives, one tree at a time.'

As part of the program's launch activities, participants were given an orientation on agarwood development initiatives and fragrance profiling. They also received hands-on training in the production of liniments and balms. The DOST regional office stated that these capacity-building efforts are designed to prepare farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises to produce value-added products for the medicinal and cosmetic industries, thereby enhancing local incomes and strengthening livelihoods.

In the Philippines, premium quality agarwood is traded at PHP750,000 per kilogram. This resin-embedded wood is highly valued in Arabic and Middle Eastern cultures for its distinctive fragrance and is commonly used in incense and perfumes. Agarwood is a fragrant dark resinous wood formed when trees such as Lapnisan and Lanete become infected with a specific type of mold.