Group seeks passage of pending Senate bill on anti-online piracy

AN ADVOCACY group calls on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the passage of antionline piracy legislation now pending at the Senate to address online piracy, saying that these are critical to the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

Lawyer Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, said the 26-year-old Intellectual Property Code needs to be amended to respond to new challenges in digital online platforms.

“We need to boost the creative economy, prevent opportunity loss, protect the interest of the Philippines’ rich and diverse talent pool, and even shield our citizens, especially the vulnerable, from online predators,” Abejo stressed.

“Online piracy harms the viability of the creative sector and undermines the values and creative spirit of our people,” he added. in an online briefing. Mapa said the country’s employment rate in June 2023 was estimated at 95.5 percent. This was higher than the reported 94.0 percent employment rate in the same month last year, but slightly lower than the 95.7 percent estimate in May 2023.

“It also unduly incentivizes those whose only contribution is to find ways to profit from what is not theirs to begin with,” he noted.

Electronic and online content are currently not included in the IP Code’s definition of pirated goods. House Bill 7600, which amends the IP Code, most notably in allowing authorities to block sites that provide pirated content, was approved last May by the House of Representatives. The measure gives authority to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) to block websites that violate the IP Code and expands its enforcement functions to investigate, gather intelligence, and develop countermeasures to piracy. It also establishes guidelines for internet service providers in blocking websites hosting pirated material.

“In terms of magnitude, the number of employed persons was posted at

48.84 million in June 2023, while 46.59 million in June 2022. In May 2023, the number of employed persons was 48.26 million,” Mapa said.

The number of unemployed workers in June 2023 decreased to 2.33 million from 2.99 million in June 2022, posting a yearon-year decline of 663,000 unemployed persons. Ho ever, the number of unemployed persons in June 2023 was higher by 159,000 compared with the number of unemployed persons in May 2023.

The sub-sectors that had the highest drop in the number of employed persons from June 2022 to June 2023 are fishing and aquaculture (233,000); manufacturing (99,000); professional, scientific andtechnical activities (65,000); mining and quarrying (62,000); and information and communication (45,000).

PATIS TESORO CREATIONS ON DISPLAY. In celebration of the Month of Filipino Heritage, an exhibit of Philippine ternos and regional costumes designed by Patis Tesoro comes o the wraps at the Museo ng Makati, with ambassadors and guests from the diplomatic community in attendance. The exhibits, consisting of over two dozens of ternos, embroideries, and weaves will be open until September 30, 2023. In photo are (from left) Museo ng Makati administrator Itchi Yabut; Filipino Heritage Foundation president Armita Ru no, , Patis Tesoro, Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, and exhibit curator fashion designer Albert Figueras. Diana B. Noche