Held at the onset of the FAMI Conference on February 27, 2018 were the 14th Intellectual Property Rights Symposium and the 19th Road Safety Symposium.
With the theme “Patent Prosecution and Protection of Motorcycle Industry in the Philippines”, the 14th Intellectual Property Rights Symposium was preceded by the opening remarks from MDPPA President Armando B. Reyes, welcoming foreign guests from FAMI member organizations, keynote speakers from the Philippine government sector and other attendees from the government and private sectors.
Atty. Josephine Santiago, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office Philippines (IPOPhil), was first to deliver her keynote address on “The State of Intellectual Property Rights Protection and Enforcement in the Philippines”, followed by a talk on patent prosecution and protection by Atty. Lolibeth Medrano, Director IV, Bureau of Patents, IPOPhil.
Mr. Shigehiro Kondo of the Intellectual Property Experts Group, Motorcycle Overseas Sub-Committee, JAMA, shared their best practices in the enforcement of the Intellectual Property Rights of motorcycle parts in Japan. Presenting a case study on strategy of patent litigation in the local motorcycle industry were Atty. Jose Eduardo Genilo and Atty. Joan Janneth Estremadura from Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW). This is followed by a presentation on organizational objectives and intellectual property enforcement procedures by Atty. Romina Miranda, Senior Agent, and Atty. Emeterio Dongallo, Executive Officer, Intellectual Property Rights Division, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Intellectual property infringement should never be taken lightly, especially in the motorcycle industry” said MDPPA Vice President and Chairman of Government Committee Alfredo Lejano in his closing remarks. “The presence of counterfeit motorcycle parts in the market exposes millions of consumers to potential road crashes because such products do not undergo proper manufacturer safety tests and product development procedures” he added.
Left to right: Mr. Andi Hartanto, FAMI Secretary General, Ms. Stone Shih, FAMI IPR Taskforce Chair, Mr. Shigehiro Kondo, JAMA Intellectual Property Experts Group, IPOPHL’s Bureau of Patent Director Atty. Lolibeth, IPOPhil’s Director General Josephine Santiago, Mr. Armando B. Reyes, MDPPA President, Mr. Alfredo O. Lejano, MDPPA Vice President and Chair of Government Committee, Atty. Emeterio Dongallio Jr. , Executive Officer, NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division ACCRALAW’s Atty. Joan Estremadura, Associate and Atty. Jose Genilo, Partner
The 19th Road Safety Symposium, with the theme “Reinforcing Philippine Initiatives for Road Safety”, is a more interactive undertaking as representatives from various motorcycle clubs and organizations in attendance actively participated in the discussion of current issues. Congressman Cesar Sarmiento, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation of the House of Representatives, graced the event with the delivery of his keynote address “Philippines Legislative Agenda on Road Safety”. He talked about the government's plan to update the national motorcycle helmet law and the bill to require motorcycles to have two license plates. Atty. Oliver Tanseco, Chief of Discipline, Law and Order in the Highway Patrol Group of the Philippine National Police, presented the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan in behalf of the Assistant Secretary Mark Raymund de Leon of the Department of Transportation.
Mr. Hisaji Kuroda of the International Motorcycle Safety Sub-Committee of JAMA and Ms. Stone Shih, Secretary General TTVMA, graciously shared their respective countries' experiences in managing traffic safety. This is followed by a presentation on planning a safe and sustainable infrastructure for all road users by Dr. Jose Regin Regidor, Officer-in-charge, Traffic and Engineering Management of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Oliver Tanseco soon came after with his talk about the challenges of enforcing national road safety laws amidst the conflicting ordinances of some local government units. Mr. Herminio Lumibao Jr., Department Head of the Honda Safety Driving Promotion, Honda Philippines Inc., followed with a presentation on how to create a new generation of responsible road users through progressive road safety education. From a motorcycle rider's perspective, the Executive Vice President of Region 2 Riders Federation Joey Tejada, shared his insights about road safety.
Closing the symposium is an inspiring remark from Jacinto Cadugo, MDPPA Chairman of the Road Safety Committee. “Road safety is everyone's responsibility, motorists and pedestrians alike” said Cadugo. “While we are still in the process of developing an ideal and sustainable infrastructure for all road users, we must keep in mind that safety is a state of mind” he added.
From Left: FAMI SecGen Andi Hartanto, Cong. Cesar Sarmiento, MDPPA President Armando B. Reyes and FAMI Road Safety Chairman Songvut Chanapai
Open Forum during the Road Safety Symposium: From left: Mr. Hisaji Kuroda (JAMA), Ms. Stone Shih (TTVMA), Atty. Oliver Tanseco (PNP), Mr. Joey Tejada (R2RF), Mr. Herminio Lomibao, Jr. (HSDC) and Dr. Jose Regin Regidor (UP)
The FAMI conference is a biannual event that is held for the harmonization of vehicle technical regulations, for the promotion of motorcycle safety and for the protection of intellectual property rights in the regional industry, among others.