Filipinos should start IP education young to maximize IP rights, opportunities

Government and international officials stressed the importance of developing a culture of awareness, respect and appreciation for intellectual property (IP) among Filipinos at a young age during the 2nd Grand IP Forum of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) last April 22, 2022.

IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said IPOPHL has been boosting efforts to educate younger Filipinos about IP not only to address their increasing use of pirated digital content but also as an integral tool in bringing their ideas to reality.

“With the youth as the biggest users of the internet and adopters of technology, we believe they are best positioned to take up the challenge of leading the Philippines into this bright digital future,” Barba said, but added that “we must also be cognizant of how our youth can also be vulnerable to corruptible practices online.”

“By teaching the young about the value of their own creation as well as of others, we are building a culture of respect for IP with a stronger foundation,” Barba said.

During the panel discussion, Nadine Hakizimana, Youth Engagement Facilitator of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) highlighted the significance of developing design thinking—as well as the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit—and instilling this sort of creative thinking at “a very, very young age.”

The WIPO representative further noted that this should be done throughout the different levels of development of young people. She also said that this should not only be with creative subjects but also with analytical subjects like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“As more people grow older, they need to have an enabling environment that they can enter into,” Hakizimana said, adding that they later find it challenging to enter the job market where they can actualize their ideas and commercialize them.

To help young Filipinos attain a greater appreciation of IP so that they can benefit from the opportunities of their IP rights, government agencies have been implementing programs that would create an enabling environment for IP and entrepreneurship for the youth.

During his keynote message, Barba cited the accomplishments of IPOPHL’s efforts to empower the youth through IP, including the Young IP Advocates (YIPA) Program. Under this program, a total of 47 schools has already produced a total of 14 IP clubs, which are training young members to be active IP advocates. Furthermore, under IPOPHL’s Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) Program, 23 schools offer IP as a three-unit subject across the country.

IPOPHL has also partnered with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System to integrate IP into school curriculums.

Other government representatives at the forum also spoke of their initiatives. Ricel B. Carbinilla of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (DTI-BSMED) elaborated on their Young Entrepreneurship Program (YEP), while Engr. Romeo M. Javate of the Department of Science and Technology’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) discussed the Youth Empowerment through Technopreneurship (YET) Program.

On the part of the private sector, Antonio L. Sayo, Chairman of the IP Committee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said they support young entrepreneurs to cultivate innovation through initiatives like the Alfredo M. Yao (AMY) Intellectual Property Awards, an annual competition of the PCCI in partnership with IPOPHL that has a collegiate category for undergraduates.

Also relating their experiences on promoting IP among the youth during the event were Lilia T. Habacon, Executive Director of the PSHS System, as well as Maria Rita Matute, Executive Director of the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP).

Meanwhile, Wesley Shibata, chief designer and founder of DEVTAC, addressed the young inventors and entrepreneurs that presented their innovations and inventions at the forum on the need to constantly innovate.

The young inventors that exhibited their inventions during the event were: Maria Yzabel Angel Palma with her AirDisc; Yzhae Marione Capuno Villaruel and her Multi SAVER Cane; Cha Rev Amour Cruz with the Guava Cider Vinegar; Near Blessing Olpindo, the co-inventor of the GT Fabric; and Mark Kennedy Bantugon with his Pili Seal.

Meanwhile, young entrepreneurs like Carmina Bayombong of InvestEd and Harley Dave Beltran of Harl’s Leather Handicrafts showcased their innovations.

“The work to create an IP-conscious and respectful generation must be at the top of our country’s agenda. We need to take active measures to help them understand the importance of IP as young as they are,” Barba reiterated.

The 2nd Grand IP Forum, with its focus on ‘IP and Youth: Innovating for a Silver-Bright Future,’ is one of the major events of IPOPHL in line with the National IP Month and the agency’s 25th Silver Bright Anniversary. The forum highlighted IPOPHL’s initiatives in empowering the youth to lead the future innovation and creativity landscapes.