Tarlac State University was named a 2024 Platinum Awardee by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines during the ITSO Network Presidents' Summit and General Assembly held earlier today (April 10) at the Sequioa Hotel in Manila.
This is the university's second consecutive year of receiving the platinum award, the second-highest award for ITSO clustering, after meeting the competencies of having more than six invention patent applications and successfully commercializing or providing assistance in commercializing at least one technology, including the establishment of a start-up company for the technology.
The university's ITSO is under the Office of Innovation and Business Development, led by Atty. Jayriz D. Dungca, who also serves as the ITSO manager.
With this second platinum award, Atty. Dungca hopes that the university and the OIBD will sustain its accomplishment of the platinum clustering competencies for three more years or achieve at least one international patent grant to qualify for the Palladium Award, which is the highest in ITSO clustering.
"We are now aiming towards commercialization and transfer of our technologies as [an] income-generating initiative of our university," Atty. Dungca said in an interview.
He also thanked the university administration and the TSU Board of Regents for their continuous support in the office's strengthening of functions, polishing policies on intellectual property, and approving the incentive programs for faculty, personnel, and students.
"We have our BOR-approved OIBD manual, which contains our IP (intellectual property) Policy and Trademark Policy, and more recently, 'yung Technology Licensing Protocol. We are also committed [to] spreading IP rights awareness through the Student Introductory Lecture on IP (SILIP), not just in TSU but also in senior high schools in Tarlac City, in partnership with DepEd Tarlac City," he added.
Atty. Dungca also highlighted faculty members' and personnel's support and participation in the foundation course on IP and patent search and draft training.
"This IP Month 2025, meron po tayong TSU COME ON (Commercialization Onboarding) kung saan we will conduct sessions per campus para ma-familiarize ang mga faculty and staff po natin sa IP policies and Technology Licensing Protocol po natin," he furthered.
Apart from the annual IP month celebration, the OIBD conducts IP-related competitions for students, such as the SALIKSIKLABAN, a university-wide research competition, and MUSIKATHA, a songwriting competition, which are all aimed toward copyrighting and patenting outputs.
This year, the OIBD will hold a quiz bee on intellectual property.
In 2023, TSU jumped from Bronze to the Platinum Award.
Joining Atty. Dungca in receiving the award is Vice President for Administration Atty. Wilmark J. Ramos, former OIBD director and the representative of TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco; Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension Dr. Erwin P. Lacanlale; IP Rights Management Head Engr. Yvy Clydylynn T. Rabara; and Engr. Julius TJ M. Serrano, IP Rights Management staff.
