22/08/2026
๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ | ๐๐๐งโ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ถ๐ถ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ
AUGUST 22, 2026 โ What began as a capstone project addressing local sericulture needs has transformed into a milestone for agricultural innovation and intellectual property rights.
The student research team behind SERDii has successfully secured three national Copyright Registrations from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). The copyrights cover the core source code, an instructional flyer, and a scientific poster for their study, โBuilding an Image Library of Silkworm Diseases: An Input to Image-Based Disease Detection.โ
While Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) holds official copyright ownership as the host institution, the accomplishment stands as a shared milestone made possible by the technical craftsmanship and persistence of the SERDii team: Robin Justin B. Catbagan, Clint Darryn B. Agumo, Romelyn A. Celebrados, Savannah Jane P. Ducusin, and adviser Sheena I. Sapuay-Guillen.
The triple copyright haul includes:
๐ฆ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐
Title: "Building an Image Library of Silkworm Diseases: An Input to Image-Based Disease Detection - Source Code"
Certificate No.: 2026-07201-N-TCCR
Certificate Date: 2026/08/11
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Title: "Building an Image Library of Silkworm Diseases: An Input to Image-Based Disease Detection - Poster"
Certificate No.: 2026-07199-A-TCCR
Certificate Date: 2026/08/11
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Title: "Building an Image Library of Silkworm Diseases: An Input to Image-Based Disease Detection - Flyer"
Certificate No.: 2026-07197-A-TCCR
Certificate Date: 2026/08/11
All three certificates were officially issued on August 11, 2026, following the formal ex*****on of Notarized Deeds of Copyright Assignment.
Beyond software engineering and design layouts, completing the national IP registration required thoughtful coordination among the researchers after graduation.
With team members transitioning into their professional careersโDucusin relocating to Metro Manila and Celebrados starting work in Baguio City, the group managed their schedules alongside Catbagan, Agumo, and adviser Sapuay-Guillen in La Union to finalize all paper requirements without conflicting with their jobs.
"I maintained a 'never give up' mindset because I knew this accomplishment belonged to all of us, so I pushed the team, managed the process, and set our schedules," shared thesis leader and lead layout artist Robin Justin Catbagan, who coordinated the registration.
"It was a matter of finding a date that worked for everyone without affecting our jobs so we could meet up and ink-sign roughly a ream's worth of documents. I stayed connected with Maโam Zhella for updates and guidance throughout. Having laid out the poster and flyer for the 2025 RIPE Day, placing in that competition led directly to this registration, and I'm grateful to the judges who saw potential in our poster and flyer," he added.
"Securing these copyright registrations is an essential milestone that gives real value and lasting legal protection to everything we built," added Romelyn Celebrados. "Taking the time to complete all the paperwork ensures that our intellectual contributions are recognized and safeguarded, making all our efforts completely worthwhile."
For lead programmer Savannah Jane Ducusin, driving the software development process required almost a year of continuous coding, testing, and debugging.
"Developing the source code was a journey that took us nearly a full year of constant refining," Ducusin shared. "Whenever we ran the program and encountered bugs or unexpected errors, giving up was never an option. We stayed committed to troubleshooting every line of code until the image library system performed accurately, and seeing that source code officially copyrighted makes all those sleepless nights of debugging worth it."
Speaking on behalf of the group, Clint Darryn Agumo expressed deep appreciation for the network of institutional support that made their journey possible.
"We are deeply grateful to our adviser and now College Dean, Dr. Sheena I. Sapuay-Guillen, our college research facilitator, Dr. Zhella Anne V. Nisperos, and Chancellor Dr. Alvin R. Malicdem," Agumo said. "Distance couldn't stop our team from finishing what we started."
The group also recognized the key administrative facilitation provided by Innovation and Technology Commercialization Office (ITCO) Director Prof. Victoria N. Malaya, Research Director Prof. Keneth G. Bayani, Vice President for Research, Development, and Innovation Dr. Angelina T. Gonzales, and University President Dr. Jaime I. Manuel, Jr., whose endorsement and official approval enabled the successful filing of their registration.
"This victory highlights our students' capacity to produce research that meets national IP standards," added project adviser and College Dean Dr. Sheena Sapuay-Guillen. "DMMMSU is proud to hold the copyright ownership while honoring the dedication of the SERDii team in making this achievement possible."
"Beyond intellectual property, our next major academic milestone is to publish this study in a Scopus-indexed, peer-reviewed journal to contribute directly to the global scientific community," Sapuay-Guillen added.
The 2026 IP registrations cap a decorated run that began during 2025 Research, Innovation, Publication, Extension (RIPE) Day, where the team earned 2nd Place in the Digital Poster Contest and 3rd Place in the Information, Education, Communication (IEC) Material Contest. The study built on this initial momentum by sweeping 1st Place for Best Undergraduate Thesis at both Campus and University levels in the Agriculture, Aquatics, and Natural Resources category. Expanding its reach, the research advanced to the 3rd Regional Research, Development & Innovation Symposium under the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC), where Catbagan orally presented the study.
Far from resting on their laurels, the SERDii team is already mapping out the next phases of their research roadmap to expand the project's reach and practical impact.
"We are far from done," Catbagan emphasized regarding the team's future direction. "Next, we plan to secure copyright registrations for our full thesis manuscript and our silkworm disease image dataset."
Because the Sericulture Research and Development Institute (SRDI) serves as the primary beneficiary and key stakeholder for this technology, translating these digital assets into field application remains the group's highest priority.
"Most importantly, we want this technology in the hands of the people who need it most," Catbagan added. "We aim to establish a Memorandum of Agreement with SRDI to officially deploy our system to local sericulture farmers and field technicians."
With three IPOPHL registrations secured, the teamโs remaining tasks focus on data expansion, academic publication, and agency partnership. The upcoming MOA with SRDI will serve as the mechanism to transfer the software and diagnostic materials from university research into field deployment. #
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