For over two decades, IPOPHL has evolved from a regulatory government agency to one that is multifaceted. This can be attributed to the leadership of the previous and current Directors General (DGs) whose staunch advocacies helped shape the IPOPHL we know today. In celebration of their contributions to the intellectual property system in the Philippines, a space within the IPOPHL premises is dedicated to the past and current DGs.
Watch the Facebook Live of the Unveiling here
Atty. Emma Francisco assumed office as the first woman director of the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks and Technology Transfer (BPTTT) on March 1, 1996. A year into her term, the BPTTT was abolished in accordance with the passage of Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines on June 6, 1997 to enhance innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in the Philippines.
Read about her legacy here
In February 2005, Atty. Adrian Cristobal, Jr. was appointed Director General of IPOPHL. Under his watch, IPOPHL took on a strategic shift by boosting outreach efforts to redefine IPOPHL’s role in the national goal of fostering innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
Read about his legacy here
Atty. Ricardo Blancaflor was appointed Director General of IPOPHL in March 2010. He strengthened the innovation ecosystem with the launching of its network of “patent libraries” called the Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSOs) that strengthened institutional and academic capacities to access patent information and use the patent system.
Read about his legacy here
In October 2015, Atty. Josephine Santiago assumed the role of Director General of IPOPHL.
Under Atty. Santiago’s term, IPOPHL dramatically ly accelerated and elevated IPOPHL’s modernization program through adopting and deploying electronic tools.
Read about her legacy here
At present, IPOPHL is under the stewardship of Atty. Rowel S. Barba who assumed position as the 5th Director General in February 2020.
In just a few weeks that DG Barba was at the helm, Malacañang placed Luzon on community quarantine to address the threat of COVID-19 pandemic. DG Barba rolled out the six-point BRIGHT Agenda, in time to fully future-proof IPOPHL services and help it withstand disruptions from the pandemic.
Read about his legacy here