Joyce Pangco Pañares
Manila Standard

President Arroyo has created a super body that will enforce and protect intellectual property rights in the country as well as prosecute counterfeiters.

Mrs. Arroyo signed Executive Order 736 creating the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights and directing law enforcement agencies and government offices to set up their own IPR protection units.

“An effective intellectual and industrial property system is vital to the development of domestic and creative activity, facilitates transfer of technology, attracts foreign investments, and ensures market access for our products,” the President said.

The Philippines has been de-listed from the priority watch list of the United States Trade Representative’s Special 301 list of IPR violators. The country is now under the regular category.

The Arroyo administration expects the country to be removed completely from the watch list by 2010.

Mrs. Arroyo designated Trade Secretary Peter Favila as chairman of the committee and the head of the Intellectual Property Office as vice chairman.

Members of the committee include representatives from the Justice Department, Interior Department, Bureau of Customs, National Telecommunications Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, National Police, Optical Media Board, National Book Development Board, and Bureau of Food and Drugs.

“The NCIPR member agencies shall establish and institutionalize a permanent intellectual property unit with adequate personnel and budget allocation,” the President said.

The committee was also tasked to provide policy and legislative proposals on additional intellectual property laws as well as ensure that courts are adequately skilled in intellectual property rights cases to hasten prosecution of cases involving violations of intellectual rights.

Last year, IPR enforcement operations led to forfeiture of close to P3 billion worth of counterfeit items, up by P497 million from the combined figures of 2005 and 2006. At least 498 cases have already been filed before the courts against intellectual property rights violators.