IPOPHL: Over 30 Pinoy products identified to have global potential in market

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on Wednesday said it has identified over 30 Filipino products that have potential in the global market.

At the televised public briefing, Atty. Joan Estremadura of IPOPHL said these products are potential registrants of the country’s geographical indication.

She explained that the geographical indication pertains to a trademark or brand attributed to a certain location, region, or locality.

“Ang GI po it pertains po para siyang trademark or brand, pero difference lang po nito sir ang goods po nito ay nakatie sa isang geographical location sa isang region or sa isang locality. Ang geographical location natin sir ay deeply tied sa quality, reputation, at characteristic ng mga produkto na binebenta sa particular na lugar na yun or nanggagaling sa particular na lugar na yun,” she said.

(The GI pertains as a trademark or brand, but the only difference is that its goods are tied to a geographical location in a region or a locality. Our geographical location is deeply tied to the quality, reputation, and characteristics of the products that are sold in that particular area or come from that particular area.)

“As of now, meron po tayong more than 30 products identified syempre nangunguna po dyan ang Guimaras’ mangoes dubbed as ‘sweetest mangoes in the world,’ meron din pong Bicol’s pili [nuts], Batangas’ barako [coffee] yan yung mga products na pinaprioritize namin or nasa listahan po namin na mga potential na pwedeng maging registrant ng tinatawag nating geographical indication,” she said.

(As of now, we have more than 30 products identified, of course, Guimaras' mangoes dubbed as the 'sweetest mangoes in the world' are leading there, it also includes Bicol's pili [nuts], Batangas' barako [coffee] those are the products that we have prioritized and on our list as potential registrants of what we call geographical indication.)

“Paglilinaw lang po hindi lang ito puro pagkain pwede rin po itong handicraft, for example yung barong sa Lumban, burda sa Taal, t’nalak sa Lake Sebu. Kasama yung mga weave or handcrafted industries natin so pwede natin protektahan na GI because ito naman ay nagrerepresent ng kultura natin and of course sa talento ng ating mga weavers sa paggawa ng handicrafts,” she added.

(Just to clarify, it's not just food, it can also be handicraft, for example, the barong in Lumban, embroidery in Taal, t'nalak in Lake Sebu. Our weave or handcrafted industries are included, so we can protect GI because it represents our culture and of course the talent of our weavers in making handicrafts.)

She said geographical indications were also used by other countries to represent the quality of their products in the global market.

“Actually ang GI sa ibang bansa ginagamit na ito para maging representation ng isang particular na kalidad. Kasi pagmayroon kayong GI ibig sabihin nagrerepresent kayo ng mataas na quality ninyo may characteristics na kayo lang ang mayroon sa produktong yun,” she said.

(Actually, GI in other countries is used to represent a particular quality. Because when you have a GI, it means that you are representing a high quality of characteristics that only you as a country or locality have in that product.)

“At yung representation ninyo kilala sa lahat, ang GI po talaga ay we let the product speak for itself. Kaya po sasabihin natin ang best example dyan yung Guimaras’ mangoes na sinasabi nila na sila ang ‘sweetest mangoes in the world,’” she added.

(And your representation is known to everyone, the GI really is we let the product speak for itself. That's why we will say the best example is the Guimaras’ mangoes which they say are the 'sweetest mangoes in the world.’)

The IPOPHL earlier drafted the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on geographical indications in a bid to strengthen the protection of these products in the country.

It said the geographical indications in the Philippines are protected under the trademarks section of the Intellectual Property Code of 1997.

The agency also released rules on geographical indication and strengthening on the promotion of local products. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News