Aklan's piña cloth products up for GI registration

Aklan's piña cloth products up for GI registration

By Venus G. Villanueva, Tuesday 24th of January 2012

KALIBO, Aklan, January 24 (PIA6) – Is your barong genuine? Yes, there are now fake ones in the market.

A party list representative a partylist representative was told by a co-attendee in a public function that he was wearing a fake piña barong. The congressman reportedly bought the barong from a mall where he was assured that the barong was made of pure piña.

Thus, the Intellectual Property Office Philippines (IPOPHL) has launched a campaign to prevent fake piña Barong Tagalog from flooding the market. Aklan’s piña cloth and related products like the barong had been selected by the IPOPHL to undergo registration for Geographical Indications or GIs.

With a GI registration, products as well as the sector, will be protected and will have better promotional positioning in both local and international markets, according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Aklan Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena Jr.

Thus, an orientation meeting on the registration system which will be held in the afternoon of January 26 at the DTI-Aklan Office.

"This activity is very timely, because recently, piña weavers in Aklan and most of us were surprised with the news of fake piña barong in the market," Cadena said.

Besides registration for GI, other features and benefits of GI to the industry will be discussed. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Cabatuan.com - Kasimanwa.com - Diosdado Cadena Jr.