Friday, January 11, 2008 Group: focus on Mindanao inventors By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE president of the Mindanao Inventors Federation has proposed for the revision of the Republic Act 7459, otherwise known as the Inventors and Invention Incentive Act of the Philippines, to give focus on inventors in Mindanao.
"It is also important that inventors in Mindanao should be given equal benefits like inventors in Luzon," Samuel Abrenilla, president of the Mindanao Inventors Federation, said Monday.
RA 7459 provides incentives to Filipino inventors. It also expands the functions of the technology application.
Abrenilla claimed that not even three inventors from Mindanao have availed of patenting, loan and prototyping assistance, and other benefits in the last several years.
"All we want is that inventors in Mindanao should also be given benefits, we will really fight for this," Abrenilla said.
He said they are also hesitant to bring out their ideas and inventions because of the fear that it will be copied by other inventors.
"Ang rule kasi is that the first one who can file a patent application will be the one to get the patent. Inventors in Mindanao lack financial assistance, it is not easy to get a patent for your invention especially that we don't have a patent office here in Mindanao. Lahat sa Manila mo aasikasuhin," Abrenilla said.
"Kung magpapalabas ka naman ng invention at hindi ka agad makakuha ng patent, pwedeng makopya ng iba na may kapasidad magpa-patent," he added.
Abrenilla further said that as to the awards and recognition, inventors should also be given Presidential Awards for their inventions.
"DOST Award lang ang natatanggap ng mga inventors natin. dapat meron din tayong Presidential Awards na binibigay. It is just right because inventors are considered as economic movers of the country," he concluded. (JGRS)
