Insider Spotlight
The PCT Filing Assistance Program reduces upfront costs by waiving select fees and providing technical consultation on the PCT system and application process.
IPOPHL said the extension follows established guidelines and will accommodate a quota of 100 eligible applicants.
Why it matters
Patent protection remains territorial, requiring innovators to secure rights in each market where they plan to sell, distribute, or manufacture.
By lowering costs and simplifying procedures, the program aims to help Philippine-based inventors and partners move faster into overseas markets with greater certainty.
By the numbers
Under the program, preliminary search fees amounting to $200 for small entities and $600 for large entities are waived. Preliminary examination fees of $150 for small entities and $300 for large entities are also waived.
These savings are paired with technical consultation designed to clarify how a single international application can streamline filings across multiple contracting states.
How it works
Technical consultation guides applicants through the PCT system, emphasizing that while the PCT does not grant a single international patent, it allows inventors to file one application that can take effect across multiple jurisdictions.
The system is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization and is designed to simplify and lower the cost of filing patents and utility models in multiple countries.
Who’s eligible
Eligibility is open to individual Filipino inventors and higher education institutions that are members of the Innovation and Technology Support Offices network. Foreign applicants who choose IPOPHL as the office of first filing may also qualify, broadening the program’s reach and encouraging cross-border innovation activity.
What they’re saying
In a press statement, IPOPHL Acting Director General Nathaniel Arevalo urged inventors “to take advantage of the program to ensure they have a solid foundation in enforcing their IP rights against infringers, enabling them to expand to new markets with greater ease.”
Bureau of Patents Officer in Charge Director Cristina P. De Guzman said the PCT is vital to inventors as patent protection is territorial.
“Hence, inventors must protect their technologies in each market where they intend to have presence, whether through sales, distribution or manufacturing,” De Guzman added.
The bigger picture
The Philippines marks its 25th year as a PCT contracting state in 2026, following accession to the treaty in 2001. Since then, the PCT has expanded to 158 contracting states worldwide, underscoring IPOPHL’s push to help local innovation compete globally.
The bottom lineBy extending the PCT Filing Assistance Program, IPOPHL is reinforcing a pathway for inventors to protect and commercialize technologies internationally with greater ease and lower initial costs. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
