IPOPHL seeks leeway in EODB compliance

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is hopeful the agency would be considered in the preparation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Act as it cited it would be difficult to comply with the required processing time of 20 days for highly technical transactions.

“We will hope to still convince the ones preparing the IRR to see how we can have accommodation without vio- lating the law,” IPOPHL director general Josephine Santiago told reporters.

She said it would be difficult for IPOPHL to comply with the law which sets a processing time of 20 days for highly technical transactions.

She said it takes an average of four months for IPOPHL to process applications for industrial design.

The processing time for applications for patents is even longer, taking at least two years, she added.

It takes a long time for IPOPHL to process applications as such are complex and require having to consult databases not just those in the country but also in other countries.

Santiago said complying with the required processing time of 20 days would mean having to hire more people but the agency does not have resources for such.

At present, there are 250 employees at the IPOPHL.

Still, Santiago said the agency would try to comply with the requirement.

“We will try to shorten turnaround time,” she said.

Last May, President Duterte signed Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018 which seeks to solve bureaucratic red tape in government institutions.

The law standardizes the the processing time for government transactions.

In particular, government agencies are required to process simple transactions within three days, complex transactions in seven days and highly technical transactions in 20 days.

Santiago said the IRR for the law is expected to be released by September.