DG Santiago graces inauguration of University of San Agustin ITSO Center
25 January 2018
IPOPHL DG Santiago with OIC RD Rebecca M. Rascon of DTI Region 6, USA ITSO Director Dr. Assem S. El Baghdady; USA President Rev. Fr. Frederick C. Comendador, OSA; USA Associate VP for Research Dr. Jonel P. Saludes; USA ITSO Associates Mr. Achilles Espaldon, Ms. Aneline Tolones, Arch. Wilfredo Sy, Jr., and Mr. Gordon S. Guillergan; IPOPHL Directors Atty. Leny B. Raz, and Ms. Carmen G. Peralta; and IPSO Field Operations Specialist Ms. Marianne Tajanlangit-Bebit
The University of San Agustin (USA) inaugurated its Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) center last January 17, 2018. The inauguration was graced by the presence of Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director General Josephine R. Santiago and was attended by IPOPHL Bureau Directors Atty. Leny B. Raz, and Ms. Carmen G. Peralta.
Ever since its affiliation with IPOPHL in 2014, USA has taken steps to ensure that its ITSO is compliant to required standards. The University has now designated its own office and appointed the necessary personnel who will take on the ITSO work. Headed by its ITSO Director Dr. Assem S. El Baghdady and is fully supported by the Associate Vice President for Research Dr. Jonel P. Saludes, the development of the re-engineered concept of ITSO was mainly attributed to Dr. Saludes, a DOST Balik Scientist Awardee who envisions an office that supports every intellectual property output of the University. This vision was a shared concept by Dr. Baghdady, a medical doctor who ventured into different facets of the allied and medical health industry in the United Kingdom. Dr. Baghdady embraced the ITSO mantra of making research better the lives of the people. USA President Rev. Fr. Frederick Comendador, OSA, has put together four (4) people from different fields of expertise to help USA achieve its goal of becoming one of the leading universities in the areas of Pharmacy, Medical Technology, Nursing, Biology and other Allied Health Services, Architecture, Technology and Commerce.
Formerly housed under the Office of the Vice President for Research, the USA ITSO is now located at 2nd Floor, Mendel Hall, University of San Agustin, Iloilo City. With its ITSO operational this year, USA hopes to provide access on scientific and technical databases, assistance and advice on IP management and in using patent databases, and other patent search services.