According to Cristobal, these agreements will also serve to strengthen public-private sector partnerships in the campaign against piracy and counterfeiting.

'I'd like to express appreciation and support for this drive to protect IP in the Philippines,' said Tarun Sawney, BSA director for Anti-Piracy in Asia who signed the MOA with Cristobal. According to Sawney, what would really make a difference to the protection of IP is leadership. 'And I'm very pleased to see that we are beginning to see that here,' he said.

PSIA president Fermin Taruc, for his part, said he is very happy to support this endeavor and sign the MOA with the IP office. 'IP protection for the local software industry creates value; it is a driver for the industry's growth,' he said.