(L-R): Deputy Director General Nelson P. Laluces, Deputy Director General Teodoro C. Pascua, IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba,
DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, and ARTA Director General Jeremiah B. Belgica. Aiming to reach out to more creators and innovators and provide them an easier way to secure their intellectual property (IP) assets, the IP Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) launched Monday, Oct. 19, its very own mobile application it named “IPOPHL Mobiliz.”
Available on Google Play and the App Store, IPOPHL Mobiliz facilitates all IPOPHL services, from filing to registration and raising reports or complaints against infringers. Users can also get updates on the status of their application and and view schedules on IP learning courses.
“Given that many of us spend most of our time on mobile, this development will help IPOPHL reach out to a wider audience and provide a convenient and faster way for securing intellectual property assets and further integrate IP in innovative, creative and entrepreneurial processes” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said.
The launch of the app, according to Barba, is also “very timely” amid the recent IPOPHL policy that pushes IP applications to be strictly made online, ensuring the safety of stakeholders and its employees.
The IPOPHL Mobiliz is also seen to unload half of the daily calls the Office receives with regard to basic concerns and questions as the app provides an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide for users to enjoy IPOPHL’s services.
The mobile app is IPOPHL’s latest digital upgrade in a series of efforts in past months to provide a contactless and user-friendly experience to stakeholders amid the pandemic. IPOPHL Mobiliz is part of the Office’s new and broader agenda which will be implemented during Barba’s term.
Raising awareness
Anti-Red Tape Authority Director General Jeremiah Belgica lauded IPOPHL’s mobile app and how it can spur innovation and creativity amid the pandemic.
“IPOPHL is not only protecting the dreamers, it is making it more accessible to them and telling them that challenging times like this, it is not only sufficient to survive but also to thrive. My sincerest hope is that with this mobile application, it will open the floodgates of Filipino creativity and the creative mindset…to challenge the pandemic and the many other challenges to come as well as to continue toward digital economy,” the ARTA chief added.
He also encouraged others to follow in IPOPHL’s success in streamlining services for a smoother transition to automation.
“Gayahin po natin ang IPOPHL in that they see the point, the compassion and the direction, of our President in pushing for more streamlined services,” DG Belgica said.
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said that IPOPHL’s digitalization efforts are aligned with DTI’s priority agenda, noting this will create greater awareness on the importance of registering intellectual properties with IPOPHIL.
He added: “This is where business value is generated, benefitting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the future. Moreover, making this digital makes the process a lot easier. Going digital is the ultimate form of Ease of Doing Business.”
“IPOPHL’s efforts in digitalization will make government transactions more accessible and more convenient for all Filipinos. This will be a great gift to the Filipino people, aligned with the vision of the President to make lives more comfortable for our fellow Filipinos” the trade chief further explained.
At the Monday event, IPOPHL and DTI signed a Memorandum of Understanding to widen the use of IP among MSMEs.
Primarily, the MOU aims to mainstream IPOPHL’s services and initiatives across DTI services, programs, projects and activities where relevant. This provides more MSMES the opportunity to leverage IPOPHL services, protect their IP assets and build competitiveness.
The MOU also gives way for intelligence sharing on consumer complaints which concern counterfeit or pirated goods, thus boosting enforcement action.
“We hope that through this MOU we sign today, DTI can help bridge us to more MSMEs and give us the opportunity to contribute not only in their recovery but in helping them secure a competitive position in their fields so they can generate employment, help more Filipinos earn a living to feed and support their families,” Barba added.
-30-
New book to be launched at the 2020 Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference
16 October 2020, Apia, Samoa – A new book, which will provide a rich exchange of diverse ideas on how to tackle climate and its multifaceted impacts, will be launched in person and online during the Third Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference, on the theme “Blue Pacific, Climate Action for Climate Resilience”, held online later this month.
The book, titled In the Eye of the Storm—Reflections from the Second Pacific Climate Change Conference, is a compilation of the contributions of some of the keynote speakers at the Second Pacific Climate Change Conference, held in Wellington in 2018. It is co-edited by Professor of Law Alberto Costi and Professor of Physical Geography James Renwick, both from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
“Climate change is the greatest threat to our Pacific islands, we must do everything we can do to amplify our voice to bring about higher ambitions, this book launch is an example of this,” said Mr Kosi Latu, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) “Congratulations to the co-editors and Victoria University of Wellington for making this happen.”
The 2018 conference was co-hosted by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and SPREP, and brought together a range of voices on climate change from all over the Pacific and beyond, with the Prime Minister of Samoa, the Honourable Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi delivering the opening address.
Professor Costi says, “This collection of essays addresses topics ranging from the science of climate change to its effects on the environment; tackles legal and policy issues about climate change from a local, regional and global perspective; and analyses the challenges raised by climate change through economic, media and religious lenses. We look forward to sharing our research more widely at this event.”
The book will be officially launched by Hon. Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi at 4.30 pm NZ time / 5.30 Samoa time on Thursday 29 October during the Third Pacific Climate Change Conference, which will be held from 27–30 October 2020.The conference is coordinated by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, SPREP, and the National University of Samoa, and the physical launch will be held in the Hunter Council Chambers. The conference will be an online event, for which registrations are now open.
-30-
OpEd on Partnerships and Pacific Nature Conservation
Partnerships, the foundation of Nature Conservation in the Pacific
Op Ed by Mr Kosi Latu, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
“We must admit, after over a year of planning for the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas that was scheduled to take place in New Caledonia from 19 – 24 April 2020, the pandemic COVID-19 hit home on so many fronts.
We weren’t sure of what was to happen to our Pacific people and communities with this virus, and we knew we’d have to regroup and recalibrate our conference, moulding over a year of planning into something new to make sure our conference happens.
Every five or so years, everyone that works on saving our Pacific biodiversity unites to review work done over the last five years, and plan work ahead in the coming five years for nature conservation – also known as our Framework for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas. The last conference in Fiji in 2013 saw over 800 people register and participate.
For us, our Pacific biodiversity – all living things – is crucial for our survival. Our biodiversity helps bring us a livelihood. It is the foundation of our culture and our traditions. Our biodiversity is responsible for bringing us fresh water, protecting us from the elements and feeding us.
With unsustainable development comes many threats to our biodiversity, which in turn threatens our Pacific way of life. Working together in partnership to protect our biodiversity is one thing this conference lays the foundation for.
Once we gained some certainty and became used to the changes brought about by COVID-19 we were more confident in forging ahead, with our partners at our side. We’re proud to say that the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas is now to be held virtually from 24 – 27 November 2020. We anticipate that this is going to be the largest virtual event for our Pacific islands’ region, all of which is made possible through partnerships.
Never underestimate the power of successful partnerships in helping to “get things done”.
We have an effective Pacific partnerships story, one that is over 20 years old – it’s the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRT), a membership-based network of NGOs and regional agencies that is committed to support governments and civil society in Pacific island countries and territories in their efforts to sustainably manage and conserve the regions biodiversity. The PIRT have coordinated their work in our Pacific, to bring about some real successful outcomes. This partnership also helps implement our Pacific Nature Conservation and Protected Areas Framework. PIRT is a myriad of partnerships working together to empower our Pacific people to protect our biodiversity.
These partnerships are also at the core of bringing you a virtual conference, trying new and innovative technology, to ensure we achieve real goals to protect and conserve our Pacific biodiversity. We acknowledge the Government of New Caledonia for their role in our partnership who has also shown tremendous support and commitment towards making this event a success, in light of the challenges brought about by COVID-19 in the past months.
The virtual Conference is more than a series of webinars, but uses an event platform to deliver an event that has sessions, but also ensures maximum engagement of participants throughout the event through networking lounges, exhibition booths, and ability to real-time chat and meet with speakers and other participants. We know that in striving to deliver something that showcases the current rapidly developing technology we will face challenges, but we are confident that the strong partnerships we have in place and their support and ownership for this event, will ensure an event that is state-of-the-art and from which we can all learn much throughout the journey towards the Conference.
On that note, I’d like to thank all partners that have come together with enthusiasm and passion, for the ‘greater good’ – a Pacific biodiversity that is strong, building the resilience of our Pacific islands people and communities.
The 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas demonstrates what we can achieve when we work as one.