IPOPHL names new director 

On 17 April 2023, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) officially introduced Atty. Ann Claire C. Cabochan as its latest Deputy Director General for Operations.

Prior to her tenure at the CPG, Cabochan served as the director of the Bureau of International Trade Relations at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where she held key positions as the ASEAN senior official and the APEC senior official for trade. Moreover, Cabochan led the Philippine delegation in disputes presented before the World Trade Organization.

With a background in law and as a certified public accountant, Cabochan brings a wealth of experience from her prior role as assistant secretary for the Consumer Protection Group (CPG) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where she played a significant role in shaping policies and regulations at CPG bureaus, including the Bureau of Philippine Standards, Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau, and Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau.

“Aside from her profound expertise in International Trade, Regional Economic Integration, Good Regulatory Practices and Consumer Protection, Atty. Cabochan has advanced several discussions on consumer protection and sustainable consumption on a regional level with significant outcomes,” Director General Rowel S. Barba said.

“Having her on-board, IPOPHL is more empowered not just in furthering important discussions on intellectual property (IP) but also in putting in motion best practices to better protect IP and promote its balanced use in the digital age,” Barba added.

Before joining the CPG, Cabochan was director of the DTI’s Bureau of International Trade Relations, functioning as ASEAN senior official, APEC senior official for trade, and lead Philippine delegate to disputes brought before the World Trade Organization.

Before joining the DTI, she had stints at the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The new DDG also has extensive experience in the academe as full-time Accountancy professor at Silliman University; part-time Law professor at the Lyceum of the Philippines and the Arellano University School of Law; and, part-time College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School of Business professor at the San Beda University.

As DDG for Operations, Cabochan will assist the Director General and oversee the operations of the Bureau of Patents; Bureau of Trademarks; Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights; Bureau of Legal Affairs; Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau; Financial Management and Administrative Service; Management Information Service; and Intellectual Property Regional Operations.

Cabochan replaced Atty. Nelson P. Laluces who retired last year after two consecutive five-year terms as DGG for Operations