— ENROLLMENT FOR A.Y. 2026-2027 IS STILL OPEN —
The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office (CPTO) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Cebu Geographical Indication (GI) Culinary Heritage Research and Development Project, a province-wide initiative aimed at identifying, documenting, and protecting Cebu's traditional food products through the country's Geographical Indication (GI) System. The Geographical Indication (GI) System, administered by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), is an intellectual property framework that recognizes and protects products whose unique qualities, reputation, or characteristics are essentially linked to their place of origin. Through GI protection, local products gain legal recognition, helping preserve cultural heritage, strengthen consumer confidence, and enhance the market competitiveness of communities that produce these distinct goods.
Spearheaded by the USJ-R School of Business and Management's Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, in coordination with the Center for Policy, Research, and Development Studies (CPRDS), the project combines the University's academic and research expertise with CPTO's commitment to tourism development and cultural preservation. The collaboration strengthens efforts to safeguard Cebu's rich culinary heritage while promoting local enterprise and tourism competitiveness. Under the agreement, USJ-R will lead the research design, field documentation, data gathering, and preparation of GI technical dossiers with the support of its faculty and student researchers. CPTO, meanwhile, will coordinate with local government units, producer groups, and other stakeholders and integrate the project's outputs into the province's tourism development programs.
The 12-month project will cover all municipalities and component cities of Cebu Province and focus on heritage food products with distinct geographic identities. Among its expected outputs are a Provincial GI Product Inventory, GI technical documentation reports, product specification manuals, culinary tourism recommendations, and a GI Culinary Tourism Map highlighting Cebu's unique food heritage. According to Joey Estorosos, Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) Manager, the partnership demonstrates how the University's research and innovation capabilities can directly contribute to preserving Cebu's cultural legacy and supporting local communities.
"By extending USJ-R's research and innovation expertise to help Cebu navigate Geographical Indication (GI) applications, USJ-R puts the province's unique products on the map, empowering local communities while safeguarding its rich cultural and culinary heritage," Estorosos said. Through this collaboration, USJ-R reaffirms its commitment to research, innovation, and community engagement by contributing to the preservation of Cebuano culinary traditions while supporting sustainable tourism and local economic development. The initiative also aligns with national efforts to strengthen the protection of origin-based products under the IPOPHL Geographical Indication System while preserving the province's cultural identity and ensuring that Cebu's culinary heritage continues to benefit future generations.
