Recognizing the vital role of women innovators and entrepreneurs in driving inclusive and sustainable economic advancement, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has extended its Juana incentive programs this National Women’s Month, encouraging more women to protect their intellectual property (IP) assets and maximize their commercial value.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 2026-005, IPOPHL’s Juana Make a Mark (JMAM) Program, originally set to conclude on April 30, will be extended for an additional year or until an additional 1,000 trademark applications have been filed by qualified applicants, whichever comes first.
JMAM supports women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by waiving key fees, including filing and publication costs, allowing applicants to save up to P2,400. The program has supported a total of 8,500 applications since 2017.
The Juana Patent and Juana Design Protection Incentive Program (JPIP) has likewise been extended under Memorandum Circular No. 2026-009, effective until a quota of 50 inventions, 150 utility models and 150 industrial design applications has been filled.
Under the program, IPOPHL waives the filing, excess claims or embodiments, first publication, and substantive examination fees for qualified applications, amounting to up to P5,820 for invention applications, P3,240 for utility models and as much as P10,380 for industrial designs with up to 10 embodiments.
Beyond fee waivers, JPIP applications will be prioritized for processing, subject to full compliance with applicable laws and absence of adverse information. Qualified invention applications will receive expedited substantive examination, while utility model and industrial design applications will be recommended for publication and registration within two months and five days, respectively, enabling a more streamlined registration process.
“When women-led enterprises secure their IP rights, they are better positioned to compete in the market, attract investments and contribute meaningfully to inclusive economic growth,” said IPOPHL Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo. “Through these programs, we reinforce our commitment to ensuring that more women innovators and entrepreneurs are able to protect and strategically leverage their intellectual property.”
“Through the Juana programs, we are breaking down barriers to improve women’s access to the IP system,” said IPOPHL Deputy Director General Ann Claire Credo-Cabochan. “By making IP protection more accessible and responsive to their needs, we are enabling more Filipina innovators, designers and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into protected assets and competitive businesses.”
Applications under the Juana incentive programs may be filed through IPOPHL’s main office or at its satellite offices, which are present in each region.
