DTI, IP Philippines open Intellectual Property Satellite Office in Cebu

The Intellectual Property Satellite Office (IPSO) - Cebu recently opened at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Visayas Office to cater to entrepreneurs and IP generators in the Visayas who want to protect their intellectual creations for business benefits.

In cooperation with DTI, the IPSO Project is part of IP Philippines' strategic move to promote intellectual property such as patent or invention, utility model, industrial design, trademark and copyright as a strategic tool for business success.

At present, the IPSO in Cebu only accepts applications for trademarks and patents including utility models and industrial designs, IP Philippines' IPSO Area Manager for Visayas Cecilio M. Fernandez said.

Fernandez explained that his Office's initial assessment of the response of businessmen in the Visayas towards the Project indicates a positive feedback as reflected in the increasing trend of IP filings in the region, and that all IP documents will still be processed at the IP Philippines Head Office in Manila.

Processing time for trademarks is within 4 to 6 months if all requirements are met; while that of patents is within an average of about 4 ½ years which is good enough based on IPOs' international standards, and that of utility models and industrial designs is within an average of about 9 months, Fernandez added.

Fernandez underscored that the primary goals of the IPSO Project are to bring IP Philippines' services to the countryside and to build an IP inspired culture of innovation and creativity that will bring about countryside and national development.

With Cebu and Davao IP Satellite Offices launched, IP Philippines will likewise launch its satellite offices in Luzon where the bulk of applicants are also based.

To encourage entrepreneurs' adherence to IP creation, IP Philippines has provided seminar workshops, promotional information campaign, partnership and networking collaboration and commercialization assistance.

Recently, IP Philippines conducted a seminar on strategic management and use of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Cebu City.

Experts from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provided the necessary expertise and experience.

During a break in the seminar, the Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares; Cebu Fashion Accessories, Manufacturers and Exporters; Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Cebu Furniture Industry Foundation and Association of Negros Producers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IP Philippines in support of intellectual property rights and the IPSO project.

NERBAC 7 staff adopts Knowledge Management

In order to better serve its clients, the staff and governing board of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) Region 7 recently underwent a Knowledge Management Workshop in Cebu.

The workshop was made possible with the joint efforts of the Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas Office and the German Technical Cooperation known as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) under the Private Sector Promotion Program called the Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (SMEDSEP).

According to NERBAC 7, Knowledge Management is a method of organizing the sharing of experience and knowledge efficiently.

For the client, adoption of knowledge management at NERBAC can improve efficiency of service and quality of information given, particularly in the area of business counseling.

The Knowledge Management Workshop was participated by representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Internal Revenue, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, Social Security System, Cebu City LGU, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bohol Investment Promotion Center, Negros Oriental Investment Promotion Center and the University of San Carlos.

NERBAC, located at the ground floor of the LDM building, Lapu-lapu and Legaspi Sts. in Cebu City, was created In line with Republic Act No. 7470 to facilitate business transactions in Cebu and fast track investment entry in Central Visayas.

It houses representatives from different government agencies that are tasked to process business permit and licenses.

The NERBAC provides prospective entrepreneurs/investors basic information on various business options that are open to them in accordance with the government's IPP (Investment Priorities Plan).

The SMEDSEP is a technical cooperation project between the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany conceived to help improve the Philippine business and investment climate for Small and Medium Enterprises.

OTOP Visayas trade fair rakes in Php 26.3 million

The 3rd One-Town One-Product (OTOP) Visayas Island Fair has proven the Visayas entrepreneurs' flair for business by generating total sales of Php 26.3 million.

Held recently at the SM City Cebu Atrium, the OTOP Fair showcased products ranging from gift items, home decors, natural fiber, processed food to fashion accessories produced by 116 small and medium sized firms from regions 6, 7 and 8.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Visayas Office, the top seller for non-food category is Bohol Beads and Fibers; while top seller for food category is Maexel Chi Cha Bites.

Among the exporters and merchandisers that visited the trade fair include 33 Point 3, Angelique's Craft, Ran Bros Incorporated, Atin Ito Handicrafts, CTC Export Philippines and Manex Handicraft.

Special guests during the opening ceremony included Cebu Provincial Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and DTI Undersecretary Merly Cruz.

More than just a regular buy-and-sell event, the fair showed the originality and uniqueness of Central Philippines – the intricate designs of ethnic decorative ornaments, the distinctive native touch in classy fashion jewelry and the bursting flavors of local delicacies, DTI said.

The OTOP trade fair is an annual marketing event that aims to generate significant sales; train producers in dealing and negotiating with local and foreign buyers and exporters and develop new exporters from among the participants.

The OTOP Philippines project is a government program to strengthen countryside development by promoting entrepreneurship and creating jobs.

Under the OTOP, local chief executives take the lead by identifying a unique product or service offered by local folks, as well as developing and promoting these.

They have the task of consolidating services needed by industries to develop as a trademark for their respective localities, the DTI explained.

OTOP-Philippines provides a comprehensive assistance package through a convergence of services from LGUs, national government agencies and the private sector. This includes business counseling, skills and entrepreneurial training, product design and development, appropriate technologies and marketing.

The DTI said the OTOP-Philippines is designed to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME's) in the manufacturing and marketing of distinctive products and services to a much better level and achieve measurable results.

Cebu will benefit from weak global economy

Cebu is considered as one of the few "recession proof" economies in the world that will benefit from the global economic meltdown, according to the world's largest commercial and real estate services firm CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.

Based on its extensive survey, CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. projected that Cebu's economy will be saved by its booming Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and tourism sectors.

Officials of the CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc, headed by chairman Rick Santos, were in Cebu the other day to give a briefing on the economic outlook for 2009. The company's chairman presented a rosy picture of Cebu economic development starting next year, backed up by realistic figures and extensive market study.

According to CB Richard Ellis Philippines chairman Rick Santos Cebu is seeing "life" amid the gloomy global economic prospects, and Cebuanos will expect abounding opportunities for employment and other money-making activities next year.

Tourism and BPOs have increasingly made Cebu a hub of foreign direct investment, a trend the company has noticed.

“For the past couple of years, Cebu City has become an emerging hub for the outsourcing industry,” said Santos. He said the BPO industry was Cebu's “biggest opportunity.”

The terror attacks in Mumbai, India where terrorists occupied the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels and the political turmoil in Thailand where protestors took over Bangkok's two international airports present rare opportunities for more investments in the IT and tourism industries in the Philippines, particularly Cebu.

CB Richard Ellis officials also dismissed speculations that the United States (US), under the leadership of President-elect Barrack Obama, will impose restrictions on companies outsourcing or off-shoring certain services to keep jobs within the US.

Santos said the economic factors that make a company decide to outsource or off-shore certain functions or services are “very compelling.” He pointed out that the high salaries and health care costs, as well as labor union issues, are just some of the factors that make a company in the US

Victor Asuncion, director for research and consultancy of CBRE Philippines, said it is “politically correct” for Obama to declare that jobs in US-based companies should be for Americans, but the issue of whether to outsource or not is a matter of economic viability on the part of companies.

“Unless Obama provides margins (for these companies), which he cannot do (at this time), he cannot stop them from (establishing) global operations,” he said in the same press conference.

He pointed out that the US Government has to deal with multi-billion dollar bailouts of its financial sector.

CB Richard Ellis is a Fortune 500 company with headquarters in Los Angeles and is considered the world's largest commercial real estate services firm with more than 300 offices worldwide.
resort to off-shoring or outsourcing.