To unclog the dockets of the Bureau of Trademarks ("BOT") and to expedite the processing of trademark applications that have remained pending for a long time, all BOT Intellectual Property Rights Specialists ("IPRS") are directed to dispose of pending applications^* as follows:

                                                                                                       

Application Filing Date	Deadline for Disposal
December 31, 1994 or earlier	On or before January 31, 2005
January 1, 1995 - December 31, 1995	On or before February 28, 2005
January 1, 1996 - December 31, 1996	On or before March 31, 2005
January 1, 1997 - December 31, 1997	On or before April 30, 2005
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1998	On or before May 31, 2005
January 1, 1999 - December 31, 1999	On or before June 30, 2005
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000	On or before July 31, 2005
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001	On or before August 31, 2005
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002	On or before September 31, 2005
January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2003	On or before October 31, 2005
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004	On or before November 30, 2005

To further expedite the examination process, all BOT IPRS are further directed to ensure that the initial action, which shall hereafter be referred to as "Registrability Report", contains all their findings concerning the registrability of the mark pursuant to Sec. 123.1 of the IP Code and the Trademark regulations and the formality requirements in accordance with Secs. 124 and 127 of the IP Code and the Trademark Regulations.

To ensure an exhaustive formality and substantive examination and the issuance of a comprehensive Registrability Report, the IPRS are henceforth given a maximum of four (4) months from the date of assignment of the trademark application for examination to issue the Registrability Report.

The Registrability Report, which will follow the prescribed format, shall be signed by the examiner-in-charge and countersigned by the supervisor.

The Director of Trademarks is hereby directed to issue the necessary memoranda or circulars to ensure the effective implementation of this Office Order.

Ms. Aniway Abranilla, Records Officer II, is hereby directed to file three (3) certified copies of this Office Order with the University of the Philippines Law Center not later than 23 December 2004, and one (1) certified copy each with the Senate of the Philippines, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and the National Library.

Ms. Corina L. Antonio, Information Systems Researcher I, MIS-EDP Bureau, is hereby directed to publish this Office Order in the IPO website immediately upon receipt hereof, not later than 23 December 2004.

This Office Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days from publication in the IPO Website. For purposes of disseminating information, this Order may also be published in a newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 23 Dec. 2004.

Recommending Approval:

(SGD.) LENY B. RAZ
Director, Bureau of Trademarks

Approved:

(SGD.) EMMA C. FRANCISCO
Director General

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^* Disposal in this Office Order shall be taken to mean allowance, refusal or rejection of the mark, or issuance of an initial action, herein referred to as "Registrability Report"