BACOLOD CITY - In support of the  rising number of health technologies being developed and health researches conducted in the region, the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) conducted two orientation-seminars on Intellectual Property Rights in Bacolod City in partnership with University of St. La Salle (USLS) and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH).  These were held on April 19-20, 2018 at theUSLS and at the Metro Inn, respectively. 

The first orientation-seminar was opened with a welcome message from the USLS’ Vice President for Research, Dr. Romeo G. Teruel. A total of  57 participants composed of researchers, graduate school students and faculty of the USLS, and representatives from other WVHRDC member institutions in Negros Occidental listened to the presentation of the resource speaker,  Ms. Marianne Tajanlangit-Bebit—an IP Field Operations Specialist from the Intellectual Property Satellite Office (IPSO) – Iloilo.  The presentation focused on the importance of IPs, differences between industrial right and copyright,  and the process flow of filing and applying for patents, copyright, trademark and other related rights. The second orientation seminar was attended by 29 staff of CLMMRH, the same topics were shared by Ms. Bebit . The two seminars ended with an open forum, where most questions from the participants centered on the of the importance of  Intellectual Property in the area of health.

Written by: Gladys Mae C. Jimenez