Manila Water builds its first-ever molecular laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance

In a bid to ease the impact of the COVID-19 virus, East Zone concessionaire Manila Water constructed a molecular laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance.

Manila Water Laboratory Services Head Joy De Vera said the facility, built in coordination with government partners and local government units, will be completed before the end of March and will be ready to operate by June 2022.

De Vera said the facility is expected to expand Manila Water Laboratory Services’ capacity to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus in its wastewater treatment systems and generate data for public health use.

“The project is part of the company’s COVID-19 response and is aimed to detect and quantify the SARS-COV-2 in wastewater using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines that are efficient in amplifying small segments of DNA or RNA,” De Vera explained. “These data will be complementary to the current clinical testing and reports of confirmed positive cases.”.

Meanwhile, Manila Water Research & Development Head Emmanuel Jimenez underscored the key benefits of this project to communities. “Through this facility, they will have access to the game-changing technique and technology in tracking local outbreaks of COVID-19 or what is called ’wastewater-based epidemiology’ (WBE). Also, data to be generated in this molecular lab can help communities formulate actions in mitigating COVID-19 in its early stages of emergence or re-emergence as WBE can detect the virus even before people show symptoms,” Jimenez said. He also added that since wastewater sample contains waste from numerous individuals, the community will have access to a cost- and time-efficient screening approach to determine the level of infection not only of COVID-19 but other possible emerging and future threats.

Manila Water affirms that the new facility will support the current efforts of the different local government units to address this pandemic. Operating the molecular laboratory also allows the company to provide services beyond its regular wastewater treatment and operations. #(MWC Corporate Communications)

Netizens push counterfeiting and piracy reports, complaints to new record

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) received 151 counterfeiting and piracy reports from consumers and complaints from rights holders in 2021, surpassing the previous record-high of 121 in 2020 and registering a 25% year-on-year increase.

Netizens, accounting for 113 or 75% of reporting and complaint filings, contributed the most to the new record, followed by IPOPHL’s own monitoring and referrals from other government agencies (29 or 19%), and intellectual property (IP) rights holders (nine or 6%), according to data from the IP Rights Enforcement Office (IEO).

Counterfeiting garnered a total of 114 reports and complaints, making up for 75% of the total. Apparel items remained to be the most counterfeited as it accounted for 85 counts or 75%. Perfume and beauty products followed with a total of eight counts (7%), next to five of pharmaceutical and medical products (4%) and five of other items, such as umbrellas and keychains (4%).

On piracy, the IEO received 37 reports and complaints. General and educational books and e-books accounted for 49% with 18 counts. Software and TV shows/movies were the next most sold or shared illegally online, with each having nine records and a 24% share to the total piracy count. 

Piracy and counterfeiting continued to rage in the online space as 136 or 90% of the 2021 reports and complaints noted that the violations took place in e-commerce platforms, social media and other websites. 

Facebook remained at the center of alleged IP violations, as shown in 87 records focused online. It was followed by Shopee with 27 reports or complaints; Lazada with 10; Instagram with four; and Carousell with two.

“We are inspired to see the online community continuing to take charge in creating a more alert IP environment amid rising demand for content and renewed consumer appetite. The surge of counterfeiting and piracy reports since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has then been met with our stronger IP awareness and enforcement efforts to counter this trend. The active support of netizens in combating IP violations is a concrete result of our efforts,” IEO Officer-in-Charge Ann N. Edillon said.

“We encourage IP rights holders to take advantage of IP protection features on online platforms to discover more strategic ways to counter IP violations,” Edillion added. 

In the event that online IP protection features cannot resolve the IP rights holder’s issues, a formal complaint can be filed at IPOPHL for further assessment and an issuance of an enforcement order from the IEO or a restraining order from the Bureau of Legal Affairs. 

Edillon noted that the IEO welcomes reports through its e-mail (operations@ipophil.gov.ph), mobile number (+639950220522) and Facebook Page.

“Although netizens have given us a boost in IP rights awareness through their reports, there is still much to be done to safeguard IPs in e-commerce and social media sites. We must fortify our efforts to combat fakes and piracy online, considering the steady role of online activities in reopening the economy.” Director General Rowel S. Barba said.# (Hannah Dione Lucero, Media Relations Officer, Communications and Marketing Office, Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines)

Manila Water hits record 13.7B CAPEX for 2021

Manila Water marked another milestone as it finished 2021 with 13.7B Php in capital expenditures (CapEx), beating the 10.7B Php record in 2020 despite the continued challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the highest CapEx record since the privatization of water service in the East Zone in 1997.

Major drivers for the increased capital spending of Manila Water in 2021 are water supply security and reliability projects, to help ensure customers continue to enjoy current water supply experience.
One major service reliability project is the construction of the NBAQ 4 project which entails the construction of a fourth aqueduct from the La Mesa Dam to the Balara Treatment Plants (BTPs). First photo shows the construction of the intake structure of NBAQ 4 at the La Mesa reservoir.

Major components of the investment are the construction of new facilities and networks to expand service coverage, rehabilitation and improvement on existing assets and facilities for both water and wastewater, compliance projects relating to biological nutrient removal (BNR) for wastewater facilities, and the implementation of interim water source projects. These intervening water sources are critical to ensuring water availability in the coming peak demand months during summer, while major new water sources are still being built by the government. Completed sources include deep wells with a total capacity of over 100 million liters per day (MLD).

Major water system projects have also contributed to the investment. These include the East Bay Water Supply System Project, which will utilize Laguna Lake as source, the Calawis Water Supply System Project which will treat and distribute water from the Upper Marikina Watershed, the Marikina Portable Water Treatment Plant, which will utilize Marikina River as a water source, and the landmark Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 (NBAQ4) project which entails the construction of a fourth aqueduct from the La Mesa Dam to the Balara Treatment Plants (BTPs). This is the first infrastructure project in Metro Manila to deploy a tunnel boring machine (TBM) in an urban setting, which is currently tunnelling underneath Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, while causing no inconvenience to motorists.

Manila Water has been compliant with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ standards on environment protection through its biological nutrient removal (BNR) on wastewater projects. These include BNR Retrofitting in East Avenue, Quezon City, BNR Granular Adsorption Media in FTI Taguig, and BNR Operational Adjustment in Olandes Marikina.

Aside from projects related to BNR compliance, major investments were also made into the construction of more wastewater system projects. Among these are the Mandaluyong West Sewerage System, the Hinulugang Taktak Sewerage System Project with its sewage treatment plant (STP) being constructed in Antipolo City, the San Mateo-Rodriguez Sewerage System, and the North and South Pasig Sewerage System, where the Ilugin STP now on its test-run phase.

In total, Manila Water has awarded 282 projects in 2021. These projects have been completed through collaboration with government agencies and a healthy pool of contractors, in compliance with international standards.

“It is imperative for us to focus our capital spending to meet both our water supply and sewerage service obligations. Despite the challenges, we continue to serve more than 7 million people in the East Zone with safe and reliable water supply, covering over 1.3 million households and with more than 5,000 kilometers of network pipelines,” Manila Water President and Chief Executive Officer JV Emmanuel de Dios said.

“For wastewater, we have invested close to ₱40 billion in capital expenditures over more than 20 years and will invest over ₱38 billion more until 2022. Wastewater coverage in the East Zone is now over 30 percent, equivalent to 2 million people served through nearly 400 kilometers of laid sewer network. This is a significant increase from only 3 percent coverage when we took over operations from MWSS in 1997. These accomplishments, in turn, would not have been possible if not for the support and guidance of MWSS,” de Dios added. #(MWC Corporate Communications)

IPOPHL webinar leads to increased IP enforcement at Golden ABC

After capacitating its manpower to learn more about intellectual property (IP) protection, fashion enterprise Golden ABC (GABC), Inc. –– owner of homegrown brands Penshoppe, Regatta, Oxygen, Forme and Memo –– said it has since enhanced its IP enforcement and  brand management efforts, yielding positive results such as more litigation savings and higher case decongestion.

In a letter to Director General Rowel S. Barba dated 03 February 2022, the company’s IP Desk said the “Notch Up In-House Digital Course on IP Capacity Building” held by IPOPHL for GABC in October 2021 has helped the company strategize effectively on enforcement and prosecution.

“During the last quarter of 2021, GABC successfully initiated a major raid and led the proactive prosecution of several enforcement proceedings through the advice and guidance of your IP Rights Enforcement Office (IEO) and the National Committee on IP Rights (NCIPR),” Atty. Kristian Nico C. Acosta, Legal Manager of GABC’s IP Desk, said in the letter.

“Moreover, just last month, our legal team was able to cost-effectively decongest GABC’s remaining inter partes case before your Bureau of Legal Affairs through mediation,” he added. 

GABC’s cease and desist orders against hundreds of online infringers also yielded a 95% compliance rate. 

“For having zero cases and docket backlogs in the administrative level (made possible by strategic alternative dispute resolution methods and intensified cease and desist campaigns), GABC has been able to save a substantial amount of fees on costly and protracted litigation,” Acosta added. 

The company said it will further strengthen the protection of its brand against infringers by drafting this year its Anti-Counterfeit and Anti-Piracy Policy (ACAP).

GABC also committed to continue its work in advocating IP in the fashion and retail industries this year. 

“Our team would like to continuously participate in IPOPHL’s meaningful activities like public consultations and dialogues on emerging IP rules, regulations and policies,” said the fashion retail giant, which has sponsored major IP events such as the 1st Philippine International Copyright Summit held in November 2021.

With the tangible outcomes proven with GABC’s enhanced IP knowledge, Barba encouraged other companies to reach out to IPOPHL’s Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau (DITTB) for a request for learning events in order to build up their IP capacities and strategies. 

“Our DITTB can tailor lectures and webinars best suited to your preferences and needs. IPOPHL especially welcomes startups and MSMEs who are striving to advance in fiercely competitive markets. We can help them identify their IPs and explore best practices in safeguarding their potential value and their brands’ future,” Barba added. 

Requests for in-house seminars can be coursed through ask@ipophil.gov.ph and must be addressed to DITTB Officer-in-Charge Atty. Louie C. Calvario. 

IPOPHL extends PCT program after record-high 2021 int’l patent applications

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) received record international applications for patent protection in 2021, motivating the Office to do more in bringing local inventions to the global stage. 

Preliminary data show that IPOPHL processed 45 outbound applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) System in 2021, marking a 137% increase from 2020 PCT applications and an all-time high. 

The PCT System allows an inventor to file a single patent in multiple or all 155 PCT contracting states. 

“With the continued reopening of the economy, we hope to encourage more local inventors and companies to seek global opportunities,” Director General Rowel S. Barba said. 

As part of this global push, IPOPHL extended its PCT Filing Assistance Program until Dec. 31, 2022 through Memorandum Circular 2022-007.

Implemented by the Bureau of Patents (BOP), the PCT Filing Assistance Program waives fees for an International Search Report (ISR) ($400 for small entities and $1,000 for big entities) and International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER) ($200 for small entities and $500 for big entities). 

The program also provides technical consultation on the PCT system and the application process.

Eligible beneficiaries include Filipino inventors, higher educational institutions that are members of IPOPHL’s Innovation and Technology Support Office Program, and foreign inventors (eligible for 90% reduction in certain PCT Fees)  coming from PCT contracting states that designate IPOPHL as an International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) and where IPOPHL is their selected Office of first filing from Feb. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022.

As an ISA/IPEA, IPOPHL prepares International Search Reports (ISRs) and International Preliminary Examination Reports (IPER). 

An ISR identifies the existing patents and prior art which may affect an invention’s patentability. Meanwhile, an IPER is an initial assessment of an application’s novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability prepared according to international standards. 

Both reports help an applicant evaluate the chances of his invention being patented under the PCT.

“With their inventions or UMs patented, our FIlipino inventors can gain greater competitiveness with their exclusive rights to prevent others from making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing their inventions,” BOP Director Lolibeth R. Medrano said.# (Hannah Dione Lucero, Media Relations Officer, Communications and Marketing Office, Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines)

Manila Water continues to provide customers with reliable water supply

With summer almost upon us and with Angat Dam about seventeen (17) meters lower than the normal high operating level of 212 meters, Manila Water continues to provide its customers of stable and reliable water supply.

Metro Manila’s East Zone concessionaire has put in place contingency and augmentation plans while working and coordinating closely with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to help ensure continuous water supply even during peak demand periods.

Inihahanda na ng Manila Water ang mga programa nito kaugnay ng water supply contingency at augmentation, sa pakikipagtulungan sa MWSS at NWRB, upang masiguro na ang supply ng tubig para sa mga customers ay manatiling sapat at tuloy-tuloy kahit sa panahon ng tag-init kung kalian tumataas ang demand sa tubig. Kabilang sa mga programang ito ang pagpapagana ng mga deepwells, pagma-maximize ng Cardona Water Treatment Plant sa Rizal (nasa larawan), paggamit muli ng ‘backwash’ mula sa mga treatment plant, at paggamit ng Marikina Portable Treatment Plant.

These contingencies include the maximization of the 100 million-liter-per-day (MLD) capacity of the Cardona Water Treatment Plant, which draws water from Laguna Lake; operation of deepwells which can provide additional 115 MLD; and operation of the 20-MLD Marikina Portable Water Treatment Plant, which can treat water from the Marikina River.

Apart from these, operational adjustments are also being implemented such as backwash recovery or re-treating the wastewater byproduct of the water treatment process, and water pressure management across the East Zone when needed. Additional inflows to the La Mesa Reservoir may also be harnessed from the nearby Alat Dam.

With these supply augmentation measures in place, Manila Water continues to advocate responsible use of water with its government partners, MWSS and NWRB. While the government and the concessionaires work together to provide the needed water supply, the public is encouraged to use water wisely and responsibly to minimize water wastage. #(MWC Corporate Communications)

IPOPHL partners with OADR to strengthen alternative dispute resolution of IP cases

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has partnered with the Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) to further develop and promote IPOPHL’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services as a prime channel for resolving all intellectual property (IP) cases in the country.

“We see the importance of ADR as the country starts to recover from the pandemic and transition to a more robust economic activity. As we reinvigorate the business sector, the last thing that we would like to see are companies bugged down by long and litigious disputes in court,” Director General Rowel S. Barba said at the March 7 ceremony for the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with OADR.

“ADR is a feasible option in settling disputes and is fast, flexible and cost-effective. Our court system will benefit immensely with the use of ADR in settling commercial disputes and allow the courts to unclog their case dockets,” he added.

The IPOPHL chief noted that IPOPHL has been actively upgrading its processes and launching new mediation services to cater to stakeholders  needs.

In 2021, the BLA mediated 195 cases, 47% higher than the 133 cases in 2020. Settled cases also increased by 32% to 54.

IPOPHL’s newest partnership furthers OADR’s accreditation of its mediation service in 2020 for its compliance with national ADR standards — a distinction only IPOPHL holds among all government offices. The MOU thus, is a significant step in enhancing the referral to and handling of more IP cases and disputes by the BLA and its ADR services.

To prepare the BLA for its bigger responsibility, the OADR commits to work with  IPOPHL in developing, improving, implementing and promoting its ADR programs through training of its ADR officers

The MOU also paves the way for the development  through joint ADR training programs to elevate the competencies of professionals handling IP disputes through ADR.

Both IPOPHL and the OADR commit to promote and support each other’s ADR programs towards the protection of IP rights.

For her part, OADR Executive Director Irene de Torres Alogoc lauded IPOPHL for its work in solidifying its ADR service and in promoting the advancement of ADR services across government agencies.

“In terms of ADR, [IPOPHL] has established an effective ADR program that complements the adjudication of IP cases and disputes pursuant to its mandate under the IP Code, and embarks on developmental and capacity-building projects including basic and level up training for IPOPHL mediators and external stakeholders, in collaboration or cooperation with public and private organizations,” Alogoc said.

“I express my sincerest gratitude to IPOPHL for your unwavering support to the OADR. We laud your advocacies and achievements that uphold ADR in the protection of intellectual property rights,” Alogoc added.

An attached agency of the Department of Justice, the OADR was created pursuant to Republic Act 9285 or the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004.

It is mandated to promote, develop and expand the use of ADR in the private and public sectors; assist government to monitor, study and evaluate the use by the public and private sector of ADR; and recommend to Congress legislative changes to develop, strengthen and improve ADR practices in line with world standards.# (Hannah Dione Lucero, Media Relations Officer, Communications and Marketing Office, Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines)

Manila Water takes full ownership of Davao water company

Manila Water Philippine Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of Manila Water Company, Inc. takes 100 percent ownership of Davao Del Norte Water Infrastructure Company, Inc.  (Davao Water) after the acquisition of all shares of iWater Inc.

Prior to the purchase, the Manila Water firm held 51% while iWater held 49 percent equity interest in Davao Water.

The acquisition is in line with the company’s strategic direction to maximize the business potential of existing ventures and take on opportunities for growth and expansion in Visayas and Mindanao.

In 2015, Davao Water formalized a Joint Venture Agreement with the Tagum City Water District and formed Tagum Water Company, Inc. The Joint Venture Agreement is for a fifteen-year water project that will undertake the construction of a bulk water supply system for Tagum City, including an intake structure through riverbank filtration, a water treatment plant with a capacity of 38 million liters per day, transmission pipeline, and a 5,000-cubic meter water reservoir.

Upon completion of its contract term in 2035, the project which started to deliver water in May of 2020 will benefit an estimated two hundred ninety thousand people and serve the water requirements of various commercial and industrial establishments in Tagum City. #(MWC Corporate Communications)

IPOPHL helps make PH 2nd country with most women inventors, commits to empower more women

Efforts of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to advance women in innovation have borne fruit with the Philippines now standing as the second leading country to drive women’s participation in the international patent system.

Recent data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held the Philippines as the second country with the biggest share of women inventors applying through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the international route for a patent protection.

Trailing behind Cuba where PCT women inventors outnumbered men with a 53% share, Philippines had women inventors making up 38% of all PCT applications coursed through IPOPHL. This is higher than the 22% share in 2020.

With this accomplishment, Director General Rowel S. Barba highlighted the importance of IPOPHL’s PCT Filing Assistance Program, which waives certain application fees and provides comprehensive assistance to inventors throughout their PCT journey.

Barba said IPOPHL’s designation as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) had also brought its Bureau of Patents’ (BOP) capacities on par with international standards, enticing more inventors, including women, to file through PCT.

Operating as an ISA/IPEA since 2019, IPOPHL has assisted 39 inventors through the issuance of international search reports for other patent offices to use in helping determine the patentability of technology applications.

IPOPHL’s learning series held last year, the “Women on Patent Knowledge Program,” as well as the Bureau of Patents’ (BOP) efforts to help women inventors draft their own patent application documents, have also provided a boost for PCT filings among women, according to the IPOPHL chief.

“Seeing how women can lead decisively, compassionately and effectively, creating positive, lasting changes wherever they are, IPOPHL hopes to see our PCT program, international services as an ISA/IPEA, capacity-building assistance and awareness initiatives bring more women to take the lead in our innovation agenda,” Barba said,

“We are very proud of how much we have gained but we also recognize that more must be done,” said BOP Director Lolibeth R. Medrano, who is herself an inspiration to women in innovation.

The BOP chief is a 2021 recipient of the prestigious Presidential Gawad CES Award for her efforts to secure IPOPHL’s designation as an ISA/IPEA.

For her work, Medrano will be sharing IPOPHL’s best practices to empower women inventors and enhance their participation in the IP system at a March 8 WIPO webinar for women on innovation, sharing the stage with other women leaders for innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.

“It is not enough that women are innovative, creative or entrepreneurial. We must make them more IP-conscious, more IP-strategic, if we want to truly empower them and see all of us achieve our greater ambitions of gender equality and a more dynamic society,” Medrano  added.

Empowering more women inventors

For this month, IPOPHL will be launching the Juana Patent for Patents (JPP) Program, which builds on the success of its ongoing Juana Make a Mark (JMM) Program, its leading initiative for women empowerment.

Launched in 2017, the JMM has benefited over 4,000 women and women-led MSMEs by waiving certain fees in their trademark applications.

With the JPP, eligible women inventors and women-led startups will also enjoy waived fees when they apply for invention patent grants or register their utility models or industrial designs.

IPOPHL will also be holding another round of “Women on Patent” webinar to help women further understand the patent system and the PCT application process.

For its overall celebration of women, IPOPHL will be highlighting women inventors, mediators, entrepreneurs and artists in its awareness campaign with hopes of inspiring women to create more high-value intellectual property assets.# (Hannah Dione Lucero, Media Relations Officer, Communications and Marketing Office, Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines)

Sharing is Caring – RiCHCORP

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Sa mga nakalipas na taon, marami nang pagkakataon na nagkaloob ng iba’t ibang uri ang tulong pinansyal o pamamahagi ng mga produktong gawa ng RiCHCORP ang mag-asawang Patrick at Dra. Elinor Tee-Roquel.

Para sa mag-asawa, ito ay pasasalamat lamang sa Panginoon dahil sa buhay na dinugtungan at patuloy na biyayang natatanggap sa kabila ng minsang pagdaan sa problema ng kanilang negosyo.

Magkasabay man ang problemang kalusugan ni Patrick Roquel noon at dinaanang problema sa negosyo ay nalagpasan sa tulong ng panalangin, pananalig at pagharap nang magkatuwang.

Ang matagumpay na kidney transplant ni Patrick at naranasang CoViD19 disease ng mag-asawa ay lalo lang nagpatibay sa kanilang pagsasama at pagmamahalan kasama ang kanilang nag-iisang anak na si Anton.

Ang pagmamahal sa kapwa-tao ay naipaparating ng pamilya Roquel sa pamamagitan ng kanilang kumpanya, hindi lang upang magkaroon ng kabuhayan kundi magkaroon ng mabuting kalusugan.

Gamit ang mga halamang gamot na tanging dito lang sa Pilipinas matatagpuan, ang Lagundi o Vitex Negundo ay patuloy nilang naipamahagi hanggang sa kasalukuyan sa iba’t ibang tao sa iba-ibang panig ng bansa.

Katuwang ang mga kasundaluhan, kapulisan at lokal na pamahalaan ay naipapahatid sa mga nangangailangan ang kanilang tulong.

Sa pagyabong ng RiCHCORP, kasama ang BINHI-Biofarm ay masisiguro ang pagsagip buhay sa mga nangangailangan… kalusugan man ito o kabuhayan.#

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