TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines opens its 10th satellite office today at the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office in Pawing, Palo, Leyte.

The satellite office will accept applications for trademarks, patents, utility models, and industrial designs. During today’s opening, IPOPHL will sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The IP satellite offices program was created to engage inventors and entrepreneurs in the countryside and to encourage them to grow their intellectual property by registering their creations.

R.T.W.P.B. to discuss wake hike

CEBU CITY, Apr. 26 (PIA) — The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Central Visayas will assess today if a “supervising condition” exists in the region that can be used as basis for increasing workers’ salaries.

In connection, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) - 7 Acting Director Exequil Sarcauga said they will submit a report that will give a grasp of the region’s prevailing economic situation to be used as basis for determining whether the three to five percent target inflation rate set by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has already been reached. (Eli C. Dalumpines)

Landbank to serve G.S.I.S. pensioners

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) pensioners in Negros Oriental are expected to open a savings account with Land Bank as their retirement fund servicing bank.

The GSIS has authorized the state-run bank to service old-age and survivorship pensioners. GSIS Branch Head Cecilia Tenaja said this will make easier for members in the provinces to access their benefits and other loans.

GSIS officials said however those who choose to keep existing savings accounts with the Union Bank of the Philippines can still use the GSIS eCard to transact the nearest Union Bank ATM.

2 Bacolod cops get award

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA) — Two officers of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), Special Operations Group (SOG) Head, Police Senior Inspector Arnold Mesias Jr. and Police Officer 2 Rommel Lee were recently awarded at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City for the roles they played in the recovery of loose firearms by NOPPO’s SOG, and the filing of charges for violating R.A. 8294 or the amended Firearms Law against businessman Mark Eugene Tan, Jury Maglantay, Hernani Santillan, Julie Pancho and Efraem Umadhay at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Valladolid, Negros Occidental. (JCM/LOL-NOPPO,PIA6)

Use banks for Philhealth payments

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) is advising individually paying members and employers to pay their PhilHealth premium payments through the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) and Allied Bank by using said banks’ Bills Payment Facility Instead of using the PhilHealth premium payment slip (PPPS), those paying through these banks shall fill the bank’s bills payment slips and the banks will then issue a validated receipt as payment proof in lieu of the PhilHealth agents receipt (PAR).