“We’ve made significant progress against piracy and counterfeiting in the past three years with IP Philippines taking the lead and we will sustain the momentum,” said DTI secretary Peter Favila.

The first point in the strategy is to establish a permanent IP enforcement unit in the Bureau of Customs. At present Customs does maintain a trade mark registration system but “it’s a pretty cumbersome process”, according to Peter Calimag, a lawyer for Quisumbing Torres, the associated office of Baker & McKenzie in Manila.

The strategy also encourages local government units to play a more active role in enforcing IP in their areas. The Department of Interior and Local Government has already issued a circular to regional directors to monitor how local government units implement IP laws, and a number of the bigger cities in the Philippines, such as Makati and Cebu, have already adopted IP ordinances.

“If we can get local government more proactive that would be a great help for trade mark owners,” said Calimag.

IP Philippines also promised in its statement to work on the creation of IP courts in Manila and possibly Cebu. The Philippines introduced a system of IP courts in the late 1990s, but their role was later expanded to include commercial cases as well.

The final two parts of the strategy include establishing an IP Research and Training Unit to train law enforcers, the judiciary and scientists and implementing legislation to further strengthen IP rights.

“We will push for amendments to the IP Code that will meet our country’s obligations under the WIPO internet Treaties and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT),” IP Philippines director-general Adrian s Cristobal said.

The Philippines amended its patent laws to improve access to medicines in May this year.