The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it will push strongly the passage of a new IP Code in the next Congress to help attract foreign investments into the country.
IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba emphasized the need to amend the IP Code as the agency celebrated, Monday, June 6, the silver anniversary of the IP Code with the theme “Creating a Silver Bright Future.”
Barba said that IPOPHL commemorates its 25th year not only by reflecting on our past achievements but also by contemplating the future.
Barba shared that one of the key achievements IPOPHL hopes to see in the near future is the passage of the bill amending the IP Code.
"Our first 25 years have taught us invaluable lessons on resilience and determination, and we hope to apply all that we have learned to achieve more and bigger accomplishments in the future, including the passage of the IP Code amendments," Barba added.
To recall, IPOPHL has been pushing for the amendment of the law to keep in step with the rapid advances in technology and evolving international legal frameworks, standards and best practices.
"The new IP Code provisions that we push for will make the country more competitive and attractive to foreign investors,” Barba said.
"We will surely intensify work in lobbying with legislators as we hope to see the realization of a new IP Code in the next Congress,"he added.
IPOPHL was established pursuant to Republic Act 8293 or the IP Code signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos on June 6, 1997. The law aims to build an effective IP system as it emphasizes IP's importance in promoting domestic creative and innovative activities, attracting foreign investments and ensuring market access of products.
The celebration aims to signify IPOPHL’s continued commitment to support the country’s post-pandemic recovery by encouraging greater use of the IP system.
“IPOPHL is proud to have delivered in fulfilling its mandate under the IP Code. In line with its functions, IPOPHL played defining roles in shaping the innovation, creativity and business landscapes of the country in the last 25 years," Barba said.
Barba encouraged the public to celebrate with the Office in its event "IPOPHL Rising at 25: Creating a Silver Bright Future" to be streamed live at IPOPHL Facebook Page.
The celebration is a back-to-back event that will hold a Stakeholders' Night and the Gawad Yamang Isip (GYI) Awards.
The GYI is the country's most prestigious IP Awards of the year. It is conferred to Filipino individuals and institutions that have helped improve Filipinos' quality of life through innovation and creativity.
The event will also allow IPOPHL to give recognition to its partners who have supported the Office in its evolution into a digitalized, development-oriented Office.
For his part, IPOPHL Deputy Director General Teodoro C. Pascua proudly noted that
the pandemic did not hinder IPOPHL from fulfilling its mandate in protecting our nation’s IP rights.
“We even managed to bring our processes online so that everyone could fully transact with the agency safely,” he said.
But as Filipinos go back to their new normal, Pascua said there is still a lot of work to be done if IPOPHL is to fulfill its tasks and responsibilities under the IP Code.
“And to ensure that the IP Code shall be all inclusive, we hope that everyone here will continue working with IPOPHL in protecting the nation’s IP rights so that our people can benefit from the fruits of their labor,”
said Pascua.
For his closing remarks, IPOPHL Deputy Director General Nelson P. Laluces cited said IPOPHL is advancing new initiatives like the Youth Inventors and Creators Incentive Program (YICIP), which would waive fees for young people when they file applications for Inventions, Utility Models, Industrial Designs, Trademarks, or Copyright.
“We aim to launch this program soon and we hope that you will also join us to make this endeavor successful,” Laluces concluded.