November 12, 2021

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) beams with pride for its Bureau of Patents Director Atty. Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano’s win of the prestigious 2020 Presidential Gawad Career Executive Service (CES) Award, the highest award given by the CES Board to recognize exemplary leaders in government.

A CES Officer IV and a lawyer by profession, Medrano has dedicated over 22 years in government service involving intellectual property (IP), environmental law, public policy and administration, organizational planning and project management, legislative work, international cooperation and trade negotiations.

Having led the BOP as Director for over three and Assistant Director for almost eight years, Medrano has achieved significant strides to improve the Philippine patent system to create better economic opportunities for inventors while balancing the interests of the public. 

The ISA/IPEA designation milestone

Medrano is most notable for spearheading efforts for IPOPHL to secure in 2017 the designation from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) and its operations starting May 2019.

To qualify as an ISA/IPEA, an IP Office must demonstrate competence and high technical skills in search and examination. Currently, there are only 23 ISA/IPEAs in the world, including IPOPHL. 

“Director Lolibeth Medrano’s invaluable commitment and leadership in securing IPOPHL’s ISA/IPEA designation has elevated the Office to world-class standards while helping more Filipino innovations capture global attention,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said. 

Barba congratulated Medrano for winning the Gawad CES Award, noting this will further the confidence of the public in IPOPHL’s work. 

“Director Medrano’s Presidential award speaks volumes on the kind of public servants we have at IPOPHL. Her accomplishment has definitely brought IPOPHL and our services to greater public attention, and we hope this leads to more FIlipinos creating and protecting their IPs through IPOPHL,” Barba added.

In her acceptance speech, Medrano conveyed her gratitude, citing that “it is a humbling recognition of my government service and the importance of intellectual property and the relevance of our work in IPOPHL.” 

“Our operations as an international authority is the platform for Filipino inventions to access the global patent system which is IPOPHL’s contribution in developing the national innovation ecosystem and culture of innovation,” Director Medrano explained. 

She remarked that “this honor will continue to inspire me and IPOPHL colleagues to serve with excellence and greater dedication.” 

An ISA/IPEA provides international search reports and a first opinion on the patentability of an invention. Both reports help applicants evaluate their inventions’ chances of securing patents in other countries under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filing route. 

Since operating as an ISA/IPEA, IPOPHL has been more aggressive in encouraging inventors to set sights on global possibilities through the PCT, and even offers to waive fees for eligible applicants. 

Other milestones, accomplishments

Medrano also helped move forward the passage of Republic Act 10372 which amended copyright provisions of the IP Code in 2014. 

Under her leadership, the BOP’s issuance of Early Search Report and Written Opinion service was also recognized as a 2018 Government Best Practice by the Development Academy of the Philippines, the agency mainly tasked to promote developmental governance.

Medrano is a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee of the Asia-Pacific Journal of IP Management and Innovation and the Supreme Court Subcommittee that drafted the 2020 Revised Rules of Procedure for IP Rights Cases, which aims to streamline the prosecution and adjudication of IP rights cases

Before bagging the Gawad CES Award 2020, Medrano was also a nominee in the 2018 run. 

The prestigious award aims to recognize CES officers and third-level eligibles with leadership roles. It is conferred to those who have demonstrated exemplary performance and contributed significantly in the areas of innovation, information and communication technology, social services, administrative reforms and public policy.