The Inventors Development Assistance Fund administered by Department of Science and Technology, Technology Application and Promotion Institute, for 2009 is about P3,677,640.00. A caveat for assistance to inventors is the invention/utility relevance to National Development Thrust, that of falling within so-called government priority areas as follows:
> 1. Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources
> 2. Health Medical Science
> 3. Biotechnology
> 4. Information and Communications Technology
> 5. Microelectronics
> 6. Material Science and Engineering
> 7. Earth and Marine Sciences
> 8. Fisheries and Aquaculture
> 9. Environment
> 10. Natural Disaster Mitigation
> 11. Energy
> 12. Manufacturing and Process Engineering
My reply to the TAPI board, after its rejection of my proposal for help to get the patent for my original invention, the cocolute, a musical instrument that makes use of Philippine materials, and produces music, has been this:
Why is there discrimination in helping inventors with inventions that are culturally -based? if artists have new products,say something that can be used by dancers, a novel design and product,should that not be encouraged as well? If a gymnast invents a pole made of bamboo or something that can be used by athlets, and it is
said to be novel, should that not be encouraged as well?
The board of the agency, Technology Application and Promotion Institute has a tendency to think that inventions of the Filipino people have to hew to hard sciences, which defeats the very purpose of the laws on Inventions which encourage creativity. And when we speak of creativity, this has no boundaries.
All products from these hard sciences may be a springboard for industrialization of the country, but to discriminate against cultural products is like removing the souls of the people from their bodies.
Every invention arises from two things: the physical body which manually creates the product; and the spirit, which has inspired the conceptualization, design, and creation of the product.
Even universally, inventors are never bracketed only into hard sciences. Science needs humane hands and hearts; otherwise it becomes a tool for conquest, domination and oppression.
Another criterion of the board is Commerciability. "Invention/ utility model must have a high commercialization potential to satisfy consumer’s needs and to be competitive with existing ones." How will an inventor fulfill this criterion when the product has to be put out into the market, with a patent, and funds would be needed for production?
Folks, this is how frustration occurs among the people, especially inventors who are being marginalized by the administration. Money exists to help inventors but they are not being released even for inventions that are truly original. So we need to really elect pro-people candidates into office so that they will also appoint committed people in the executive department who must know what is truly Filipino, and will truly nurture our talents and skills.
I hope that you could also help me produce the cocolute for market distribution.
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