SOCCSKSARGEN unlocks another milestone in its quest for gender inclusivity in the region and the country with the intellectual property (IP) registration of the Gender and Development (GAD) Seal.

The GAD Seal is a recognition conferred to agencies with outstanding institutional mainstreaming initiatives on gender and responsiveness in their policies, programs, and services.

On December 19, 2022, DILG Dose applied for the IP registration of the GAD Seal Certification in the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhil). After a year of complying with all the requirements, the GAD Seal Trademark was successfully registered with IPOPhil with a 10-year validity starting April 6, 2024.

Now, one might ask what is a trademark, or intellectual property registration; its benefits, and where we get it.

In the Philippines, the agency with the mandate to administer, implement, and strengthen the protection of IP rights is the IPOPhil. One of the agency’s concerns is trademarks, like our GAD Seal.

IPOPhil states, “A trademark is a word, a group of words, sign, symbol, logo or a combination thereof that identifies and differentiates the source of the goods or services of one entity from those of others.”

Registering our IP for GAD Seal boasts a few yet powerful benefits. In gist, “having a registered IP gives you the exclusive right to allow or prohibit others from using it. Registering trademarks protect it from copycats and anyone else who wants to profit from it,” IPOPhil explains.

This registration adds a layer of legitimacy and credibility to the certification process, reinforcing its significance as a symbol of commitment to gender equality and inclusive development within SOCCSKSARGEN. Furthermore, this proactive approach reinforces DILG Dose’s dedication to promoting gender-responsive governance and solidifies its position as a trailblazer within the broader DILG framework.

A brain-child of former DILG Dose Regional Director and Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) XII Chairperson, now DILG Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Development, Asec. Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, this GAD Seal has come a long way from being a pioneering initiative in institutionalizing the Prime Regional Government Center in Korondal City, South Cotabato as a GAD Zone Center to becoming an instrument used by the country in mainstreaming gender development and awareness initiatives in both local and national government agencies.

The Seal’s stringent criteria and assessment guidelines derived from Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women and other related laws make it a powerful tool in empowering all workspaces - and places - gender inclusive.

Currently, DILG Dose and its Consortium partner, Notre Dame of Marbel University, have started their preliminary coordination meetings and preparations to gauge the effectiveness and benefits of the program and identify improvements in the implementation.

Now, with the strong leadership of DILG Dose OIC-Regional Director Atty. Rochelle D. Mahinay-Sero, CESE, and current RGADC XII Chairperson, Rehiyon Dose poses itself at the forefront of advancing gender inclusivity and gender empowerment in the country through the GAD Seal.