As a sign that more and more Filipinos are now aware of protecting their valued creations, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines said IP registration jumped 4.4 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2022.

IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba said from January to September 2020, filings for trademarks, patents, utility models, and industrial designs stood at 36,709, expanding from 35,172 in the same period in 2021.

The nine-month total books in a 3.1 percent growth over filings in the first months of 2019.

"The latest figures show impressive recovery in IP filings as we are on track to exceeding the pre-pandemic volume. Increased economic activities largely drive this as several areas where quarantine restrictions have de-escalated to their laxest yet," Barba said, citing the Philippine economy's remarkable average growth of 7.8 percent in the said period, a faster increase compared to the average gross domestic product of 5.1 percent compared from in January to September 2021.

The IPHOPHL report further stated that trademark filings pushed the growth, which grew by 5.6 percent to 31,665, while residents accounted for 62 percent or 19,762.

Patent filings climbed 2.3 percent to 3,116, with non-residents contributing 90 percent or 2,807.

On the other hand, industrial designs protect the unique appearance of a product, inched up one percent to 923, in which the most significant boost came from non-residents at a 56 percent share or 516.

However, utility models, which provide patent-like protection at a shorter duration and with a less rigorous application process, contracted by 17.2 percent to 1,005, with residents making up 96 or 960.

"As IPOPHL also ensured a strong presence in various channels to help more Filipinos protect their IP, we are confident in maintaining our recovery momentum throughout the rest of 2022," Barba added, underlining that IPOPHL has been exceeding various targets on IP awareness for the year, such as in terms of the number of learning events held, participants involved and media presence.

The bulk of trademark filings was in pharmaceuticals, health, and cosmetics (with a 19.0 share), followed by agricultural products and services (16.8 percent) and scientific research and information communication technology (14.5 percent).