Advancing Geographical Indications in the Philippines
A Geographical Indication (GI) is an intellectual property right protecting the name and identity of certain products which unique characteristics have developed due to a mix of local factors/influences either natural, due to a specific environment, and/or human, through the use of the wisdom/know-how of local producers. These products are, therefore, associated in the mind of the consumers with their origin and are named accordingly.
With the intention of pushing forward Geographical Indications (GIs) in the country, FAO and partners held a national forum on the future of Geographical Indications (GI) in the Philippines with the theme "Working Towards the Advancement of Protection and Promotion of Philippine Origin-Linked Products" on 20 April. The event was organized in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Government of the Republic of Korea.
The forum, which was held in hybrid mode with the in-person component conducted at the Ace Hotel and Suites in Pasig City, aimed for relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors as well as development partners to have a better understanding and appreciation of the concept of GI and its associated systems, as well as current regional developments and prospects for the Philippines. The forum also served as a venue for relevantr stakeholders to identify ways forward and discuss potential areas of collaboration to advance GIs in the Philippines.
A GI is an intellectual property right protecting the name and identity of certain products which unique characteristics have developed due to a mix of local factors/influences either natural, due to a specific environment, and/or human, through the use of producers’ local wisdom/know how. These products are therefore associated in the mind of the consumers with their origin and named accordingly.
The national forum comes at the heels of two FAO-implemented initiatives on GIs in the country: the "Support to development of Geographical Indications in the Philippines as instrument of sustainable rural development" and the IFAD-funded "‘Enhancing Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation through Innovative ICT Solutions: Linking Upland Farmers to Market and Improving Municipal Waters Governance."
The former aims to improve the incomes of smallholder farmers through the development of GI value chains, improved market access, and increased recognition of Philippine GIs by consumers in relevant markets, while also promoting environmental and social sustainability and to upgrade the institutional infrastructure for the grant of GIs in the Philippines in the areas of capability building, assistance to potential applicant/communities and development of standards/protocols. On the other hand, the latter project intended to deliver an ICT tool that will support the promotion and protection of GIs in the Philippines.
The forum was attended by representatives from FAO's GI partner entities that included IFAD, the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DTI-IFAD RAPID Growth Project, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cooperative Development Authority, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Department of Tourism, the European Commission Delegation in the Philippines, and EU-supported projects in the country.