House Bill 2038 seeks to revive the Philippine Inventors Commission (PIC) to be able to boost the competitiveness of Filipino inventors. PIC was created in 1964 by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 3850. Its aim is to promote research and development to provide technical, financial, legal, and marketing assistance to Filipino inventors. In 1987, it was abolished by Executive Order 128 as part of the government reorganization.

The bill will promote the generation, manufacture, and market of Filipino inventions. At present, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) under the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) is implementing a law that will provide incentives to Filipino inventors and inventions. This is RA 7459 which expands TAPI functions but does not provide support that will help the sector. Based from the statistics from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL), local applications for trademark and patent have been low compared to foreign applications. In 2010, there were only 167 invention applications, while foreign invention applications increased to 3,224. An agreement was signed by IPOPHIL and DoST this year that will aid in speedy patent applications among Filipino scientists, engineers, and inventors. Among the Filipino inventions that won international awards are the following: SMS reader, solar-powered balut-maker, superkalan, modular housing system, super bunker, natural gas vehicle, Tubig Talino, anti-cancer cream. Filipino inventors need the support of government and private sector. If it will be ratified by law, the resurgence of the Philippine Inventors Commission will help to push the ingenuity of Filipinos. [via mb.com.ph]