BIZ BUZZ: New intellectual property office chief’s homecoming

A familiar face returns to lead the country’s intellectual property office.

President Marcos has appointed Teodoro Pascua as director general of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the agency responsible for registering copyrights, trademarks and patents, as well as enforcing antipiracy and anticounterfeiting rules.

Pascua is no outsider, having served as IPOPHL deputy director general for policy and management services from 2018 to 2022. During this period, he oversaw key units including technology transfer, management information and financial management.

A lawyer, Pascua also has experience in senior posts across government. He previously served as deputy director general at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and undersecretary for consumer protection at the Department of Trade and Industry.

This leadership change comes as IPOPHL ramps up efforts to strengthen intellectual property protection and support innovation.

“I am honored to come back home to IPOPHL and work alongside the dedicated men and women who are advancing innovation and creativity in the country,” Pascua said. “This we do at a critical juncture when products of the mind have been increasingly shaping our economy.”

Acting chief Nathaniel Arevalo will revert to his previous post as deputy director general.

More than a homecoming, Pascua inherits a full plate. Counterfeiting remains a persistent issue, with hubs like Greenhills Shopping Center still flagged in global trade watch lists.