MoneyMatters

US holds intellectual property rights dialogue

AMERICAN private sector business leaders, members of the diplomatic community, and officials from the U.S. and Philippine governments met at a U.S. Embassy-sponsored program on May 11 for a broad discussion of intellectual property rights (IPR).

The U.S. Embassy held its third “Roundtable on Intellectual Property Rights” (IPR) to promote positive initiatives to improve IPR protection in the Philippines.

Following the February 2006 removal of the Philippines from the U.S. Government’s Special 301 Priority Watch List for protection of intellectual property rights, this Roundtable brought sought to identify specific strategies and priorities to further strengthen IPR enforcement in the Philippines.

In her remarks, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney underscored the common economic interests of the U.S. and the Philippines in achieving stronger IPR protection. She congratulated the Philippine Government for recent improvements in IPR protection that led to its removal from the Priority Watch List but noted that there is still work to be done. Ambassador Kenney encouraged the private sector to continue working with both the U.S. and Philippine governments, and noted that strong IPR enforcement is critical to encouraging investment, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

The U.S. Government is proud to continue its partnership with both the private sector and the Philippine Government in improving IPR, which includes training and funding for specific programs. Director General Adrian Cristobal of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) emphasized that the Philippine Government is committed to a strong intellectual property system, and outlined its strategy for sustaining recent gains in IPR protection and strengthening the intellectual property system. He cited a number of recent policy initiatives that further clarify responsibilities and strengthen government agencies responsible for IPR enforcement.

U.S. private sector participants acknowledged that the Philippines has a strong system of IP laws but emphasized the need for greater progress in arrests and prosecutions of IPR violators in order to create a credible deterrent to IPR theft. According to the participants, judicial delay, minimal sentences for IPR violators, and a weak regulatory environment continue to pose major challenges to enforcement of IPR. Press Release

Govt appeals illegal recruitment raps vs US-based firm

DAVAO City - The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has asked the City Prosecutor's Office (CPO) to reverse its earlier resolution dismissing the illegal recruitment charges against the United States-based E-World Resource Center.

POEA argued investigating prosecutor Jofre Saniel erred in dismissing the case against E-world as they have evidence to prove the firm engaged in recruitment activities.

POEA sued E-World for illegally recruiting teachers to work in the United States and Europe.

Saniel ruled the evidence was not sufficient to charge E-world in court since the company had not engaged in hiring teachers but only conducting seminars for those who would want to teach abroad.

He said the company could not be held liable for illegal recruitment since it only assisted aspiring teachers to pass US exams for teachers, and not hiring them. PNA

Steag helps govt provide chairs to schools

VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental––The gap between number of students and available school chairs in this town will soon be reduced by at least 50 percent. This developed as Steag State Power Inc. (SPI) together with the Department Education (Dep-Ed) and the local government of Villanueva signed an agreement for the implementation of comprehensive school chairs pro-ject under the Adopt-a-School Program.

Under the program, SPI will provide nearly 900 school chairs to all public elementary and high schools in Villanueva, representing the company’s contribution to reduce the gap between chairs and students and thereby contribute to the improvement of the quality of public education.

The project is part of the company’s corporate social development commitment to its host communities where the 210-mw Mindanao Coal-Fired Power Plant Project is currently being put up.

Reports from the local DepEd here indicate a shortage of almost 1,800 chairs vis-à-vis the total student population in 13 public schools in Villanueva. This figure has been substantially reduced starting last year when SPI initially donated about 500 study chairs as part of its continuing support to efforts aimed at improving quality of public education.

The agreement was signed by SPI president Andreas Rubin, Villanueva Mayor Juliet Uy and Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Sinforosa Gui-ñares during the 2006 Stakeholders Gathering held recently at the Villa Kusina Bldg. in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Dr. Guiñares said that SPI’s contribution is certainly a big boost to government’s drive of bridging the gap between the growing student population and the availability of facilities as basic as desk chairs. "We welcome this development and DepEd is truly grateful to SPI for prioritizing education in its social development initiatives" Guiñares said.

Meanwhile, SPI president Andreas Rubin said the company is currently exploring more partnership with the private and public sectors to attain the ideal 1:1 student-chair ratio.

"I am confident that attaining this goal is not a remote possibility for as long as we remain focused and continue to gain the support from our partners in the public and private sector," said Rubin.