NU6: Serendipity Walk by RBF

Business Opportunities Along General Santos Ave., Corner A.Bonifacio Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City

On my way home from the Office and as I walk along General Santos Avenue corner A. Bonifacio Avenue in Bicutan, Taguig City, where DOST Compound is located, there were a lot of business opportunities that came to my mind. Actually, it has caught my attention a long time ago but the possibility of putting up businesses on that vacant space would depend on the DOST Secretary's decision since the it is a government property.

About 5 years ago, DOST has already donated 1000 sq meter area for the provision of a rotunda and road widening since there was so much traffic going to A. Bonifacio St. because there are a lot jeepeneys to and from FTI, Pasay, The Fort, Sucat and Alabang that pass through the area. You can also find jeepney stations bound to Pasay and bound to Alabang in the corner along the side walk of Gen. Santos Ave. Across it is parking for tricycles going to Lower Bicutan and Upper Bicutan (around 200 tricylcles going back and forth).

Of all the streets I've passed through, this street is the busiest street that I came across during the day and even at night. I came into a conclusion that the Bicutan area in Taguig is one of the most densely populated areas in Metro Manila.

Gen. Santos Ave. is also used now as short cut going to C6 for vehicles going to Pasig Cainta and Taytay, Rizal.

With the above observations I listed down the business opportunities that I think would have a potential to become successful.

- Fastfood chains such as Jollibee, Mc Donalds, Mang Inasal

There is no eating area near it except in SM Bicutan which is around 500m away via overpass which is always full and prone for pick pockets thus people prefer to ride the jeepney where they have to pay P8.50 and wait until it is full.

- Restaurants

There is a canteen and a carinderia type eating place inside the compound but with more hundreds of employees and thousands of guests every day, what is left is only snack food at around 12.30 pm.

People would always tend to look for other food different from those seen in the canteen or a different ambiance so they would prefer to eat out once in a while. But going to SM city would be a hassle since you have to ride a jeepney or walk the 500m overpass before going there. So a nice eating place just outside the gate would be favored more.

-          Carinderia

The  tricycle drivers and jeepney drivers would enjoy lutong bahay more than fastfood and may only afford the price of food in the carinderia.

-          Kiosks for Siomai snacks or burger or turon

People on the go especially in the morning and evening where there is a long queue for people going to Alabang and Pasay would want to grab a snack from kiosks while waiting for the jeepney.

-          Grocery store

If you cross the street and walk 100 meters you would find a wet market. But going there is a hassle especially for office workers or for people who would not want to walk that 100m back to the jeepney or tricycle station. Or those not wanting to walk 500 m to SM just to buy a few grocery needs especially for office workers.  Making your prices just comparable with SM hypermarket or a few centavos lower will attract more customers.

-          Gasoline station (Petron, Caltex or Shell)

A gasoline station would be a sure hit since there are a lot of vehicles taking that route. A gasoline station at the corner lot would be available for jeepneys and tricycle alike

-          RTW

Since clothes is one of the basic needs of people, ready to wear clothes will be profitable in a good location

-          Fruit Shake/ Juice Stand – especially on a very hot day where drivers and passengers feel hot and thirsty.

Other businesses that will also click are the following:

-          Bigasan

-          Fruit/Vegetable Stand

-          Bookstore/School Supplies Store

-          Bakery/Pastries/Cake Store

-          Convenience Store

The only problem with putting up a business in the area is the permit to use the vacant lot which is owned by DOST. But if DOST is allowed to create income from business, the agency could also think of putting up the following businesses or establishments in the future:

-          Gasoline station for bioethanol (E80) or biodiesel for 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines.

The tricycles running in Bicutan are all using a 2-stroke engine which emits too much smoke thus polluting the environment, selling cheap biodiesel for 2-stroke engines would be a good way to help the environment.  Also, the regular gasoline stations only sells E10, but new cars are already designed so that it can use E80. Since ethanol is much cheaper than regular gasoline, E80 would sell cheaper and is more environment friendly.

-          Charging station for e-trikes.

The Taguig LGU has recently launched the use of e-trikes (electronic tricycles). If a policy will be made that all tricycles in Bicutan will be changed into e-trikes, there would be a need for charging stations or battery switch stations (since charging would take hours).

-          An area where to promote DOST technologies

The DOST have generated technologies but there's a need to market these technologies or showcase the technologies, the corner lot would be a good location to do this.

-          Pilot Plant for Bioreactor ( biocomposter– of biodegradable waste)/ Plastic/styro desifier

One of the major problems of the wet market near DOST is the garbage disposal. Even vendors at night throw garbage in the middle of the road at night. A good way to promote the bioreactor and plastic/styro densifier of DOST is to put up a pilot plant of these technologies in the corner area in order to process the waste not only of DOST but also the nearby wet market. They just have to make sure that it is properly operated and maintained so that it will not emit any foul odor. The compost that would be produced from the bioreactor can be used in the Biodiversity projects of the compound or can be sold to landscapers. Products from the plastic/styro densifier can be converted into useful products like catwalks tiles, planters, waste baskets, table tops, chairs, etc.

4

-          A showroom for all DOST-assisted products

Since DOST have already helped a lot of MSMEs by providing technology interventions, the DOST can also help them in marketing by providing a showroom or selling area for the assisted products where a lot of people can see and buy.

These are just wild ideas which could become successful in the future because the area is strategically located and have a big potential as business location. 

4

Yes, we pass this way from Angono going to Tagaytay via C6

R100125

Nu6 by RBF, Opportunity Seizing from Unregistered Patents In RP

2^nd NU 6 by RBF 100125

A New Way to Look for a Worthy New Product Ventures

One of the reasons why China has grown so fast is their ability to imitate. And now they are one of the leading countries with the most number of innovations. Then why don't we follow what they have done and imitate too? Before you raise your eyebrow let me expound a bit.

Do you know that it is legal to locally manufacture a product patented in other countries but is not patented here in the Philippines? All you need to do is wait for one year after the date of filing for the patent application of the invented product in other countries. If after one year this product is not filed at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Philippines, it is legally allowed to manufacture and market the product locally here in our country. And it is also allowed to market it in other countries where it is not IP protected.

I think this was one of the reasons why Chinese companies in China were able to imitate patents and designs and have not been charged guilty in courts. I also think this is the reason why IP registrations in China have increased by roughly 35% every year. Because inventors/innovators and designers are afraid that other Chinese companies will imitate their inventions and designs.

In the Philippines, there are only 1,000 to 2,000, (on the average) total registered patents, utility models and industrial designs from domestic and foreign applications out of almost a million new patents that are published in the internet every year.  To date there are already over 70 million patents registered all over the world.

How can we use this to our advantage? For existing and new entrepreneurs out there who does not have the capability to do research and development, you can search for profit-making products abroad that are not patented here in the Philippines after a year it was published. If you think (or based on your analysis) that this product would also be saleable here, then you can manufacture and market it here. After all, just targeting one fourth or say maybe 10% of the 90 million population of Filipinos as your market is not so bad. But of course it would be much better if you would innovate or improve the product a little and utilize our existing local materials as your raw material.

But where will you get the information for the registered patents in the Philippines? All registered patents can be viewed through the Patent Search of IPO Phils. through this website: (http://patents.ipophil.gov.ph/patsearch2/) and international patent registrations are found in the website of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) through this site: (http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/ ) and other sites like the Espacenet (http://gb.espacenet.com/search97cgi/s97_cgi.exe?Action=FormGen&Template=gb/en/quick.hts) and USPTO (http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html). These sites can be accessed freely by anyone.  But the only drawback in getting information from these sites is how you would decipher the exact details since patent experts use unique terms so that their inventions will not be easily figured out. Luckily, there are Innovation Technology Support Offices (ITSO) that are currently being created, where you can get assistance from for patent searching, patent drafting and patent application. These ITSOs can be found in many institutions like ADMU, DLSU, UP, MAPUA, UST, Don Bosco College, TUP, PUP, TIP, EARIST, Benguet State Univ., Bicol Univ., some DOST agencies, and many more in Luzon and some universities and institutions in Visayas and Mindanao. The ITSOs also use a software which allows them to view the details of the registered Intellectual Property Rights.

Before you get confused let me just elaborate a little on the types of intellectual properties and their protection.

Intellectual Property or IP is a certain legal rights that people hold over their creations such as inventions, works of art, writing, designs, ideas, music or choreography. In order to protect your rights over your creations you should register them at IPO Phils. or if you want worldwide protection you can register it in other countries' IP Office within one year from the date of filing at IPO Phils. In our country the following are the types of IP:

1. Patents

Patents are legal property rights applied to inventions such as processes, products, machines, manufacturing designs, biological discoveries, or "compositions of matter" that is new (meaning it is never been done before), inventive and useful. Once you filed your patent application in IPO, you will have 20 years of IP protection before it becomes available for everybody to use. This is non renewable after 20 years thus it is expected that you have earned your ROI and have already gained profit from the sales of this product or invention.

2. Utility Model (UM)

UM also called "petty" patents in other counties is an IP protection for innovations or improvements done on existing products or machines, implements, tools, composition or process that would still meet the inventive threshold required for standard patent application. It must be practical, novel and has an industrial applicability. The protection for the Utility Models is only 7 years from the date of filing and is none renewable.

3. Industrial Design

Design is all about the way an object looks, its shape or its visual appeal. This could consist of three-dimensional or two dimensional features of an item. The protection for Industrial design mainly covers the aesthetic aspect of the article. It does not include the technical features of the item to which it is applied. IP protection for Industrial Design is 5 years from the filing date of the application and may be renewed for not more than two (2) consecutive periods of five (5) years each.

4. Trademarks

Trademarks include any words, phrases, symbols, logos, signs, or a combination thereof that are used in association with a particular brand or good in order to distinguish it from other products of that industry. Trademarks are used for identification purposes, and are legally protected once they have been registered with the IPO Phils. Just like the previous types of IP described above IP protection for trademarks is territorial. You need to register it in other countries where you want your trademark to be protected within one year upon the date of filing for IP protection. Trademark protection is renewable every 10 years.

5. Copyrights

A copyright is a form of intellectual property that protects the original authors of both published and unpublished creations. This "original creation" refers to literary, scientific and artistic domain such as books and other writings, musical works, films, paintings and other works, and computer programs.  Copyright protection for the original and derivative works of the author registered in IPO Philippines gives the rights of ownership for the originator throughout his life plus 50 years after his death. In other countries such as US and EU countries copyright protection is plus 70 years after the death of the originator. Copyright protection is recognized worldwide.

                The details for the above types of Intellectual Property Rights are found in the IPO's website which is noted down as my source and other website of Intellectual Property Offices in other countries which you can look up in google in order to be familiar with their IP laws.

                Since there are only a few IPs being filed here in our country, we can grab the opportunity to look for valuable and commerciable products which we could venture into that are not patented here so that it could benefit our country and our fellow Filipinos.  But let me just clarify that once the product is given IP protection in other countries, you can no longer register it here for IP protection. So I would suggest to improve or innovate a little on the existing products so that you could still apply for a Utility Model which gives you 7 years protection.

                We would always complain that inventions of Filipino inventors have been copied and produced abroad. It's about time that we also exploit this opportunity of imitating, producing and selling it here and in other countries so long as it is legally allowed. With our limited resources and government support in R&D and to our inventors, we might as well look at the opportunities which are available in the web.  

Fighting fire with fire.  Exploiting legal loopholes.  Hmmmm 4.0

Source: http://www.ipophil.gov.ph/

NU6 by RBF1Improving My Spending Habits

Hi sir:

Below is my first assignment for NU6, I changed the title "New spending habits/routine" to this one. Please see below. Thanks.

Kind regards,

Rose B. F.

Improving My Spending Habits

Ever since I received my first salary I was an impulsive buyer. Since I was not able to monitor my expenses and my earnings I realized that I bought a lot of things which filled up my cabinets. I loved to buy DVDs which I rarely watch (in fact I've only watched ¼ of it) and clothes, shoes and slippers during mall sales which some of them I've never used and can no longer use since I gained almost 10 kilograms when I got pregnant. I was not able to recover my once slim and sexy body (hehe). I also bought figurines which I don't really enjoy displaying and other useless objects. These things were kept in boxes that filled a vacant room in my apartment but when I had a kid I have to dispose of all these things and kept a few useful objects so that the yaya can use the spare room.

Two years ago, my husband and I discussed our spending habits and since we already have a baby, we also thought of our family's future. We got the idea of budget planning from one of the seminars that we attended so we came up with our own budget plan.  We agreed to assign a percentage of our earnings to six different accounts listed below.Here are some tips which you can also use.

1. 50% - necessities account

This includes food, rents, car/transportation, bills which includes payment for yaya, utilities and phone bills and baby expenses such as vaccines. You can save on necessities if you bring packed lunch or have dinner at home rather than eating in fast foods or expensive restaurants.

2. 10 % - give account

This includes tithes, donations to foundations and other people in need. Give account is never lower than 10% but sometimes it is higher since there are unexpected solicitations or donations but this could be balanced by the play account.

3. 10 % - education account

This includes buying books, attending trainings, payment for tuition fees. Since tuition fee in AGSB is expensive, education account can reach up to 15 - 20% but this is only temporary because after graduation it will go back to normal. To save a bit, you can borrow old books from friends.

4. 7.5 % - leisure or long term spending savings account     

This includes going to the beach with family, travel abroad or other destinations. This is also known as long term spending savings account since you don't have to do this every month but you can do it twice or thrice a year so you have to save for this spending. It is always better to enjoy this kind of luxury which you enjoy with your family or friends rather than having it become a mindless habit.

5. 7.5 % - play account

            This includes going to movies, eating out with friends and family, going to malls with your kid, etc. You can save a bit if you can spend your day with your family at home and play with them, cook good food together, watch DVD together rather than go to a movie house. If you don't want to stay at home then you can go to the grocery together or visit relatives and friends.

6. 15% - savings account/ financial freedom account

            You have to set aside at least 15% of your earnings which you can invest in stocks, mutual funds, etc. This savings account is also called financial freedom account because you are assured that you have money saved for the future.

We started with 10% for our financial freedom account since our joint salaries cannot cope with our necessities.  But as our salaries increased, we decided to make it 15%. Our savings in previous years were invested in real estate and my husband invested in stocks and we also invested in mutual funds. I also invested in our cooperative which gives 10% interest on savings.

I still use a credit card (my husband uses the supplementary card) which I use in groceries and other purchases but I made sure that I pay everything before the payment due date. My credit card company do not charge annual fees when you reach a certain annual total purchases so I don't pay annual fees.

Monitoring the Earnings and Expenses

In order to monitor our earnings and expenses I did a simple excel program to track how much we've spent for the month. In the spreadsheet you have to put the date of expense, amount, details (what it is), category (whether it is food, bills, etc.) and type of account. A summary of these can be seen in another spreadsheet so that you can see the percentage of expenses per classification and savings monthly and the total. In this program all earnings and expenses are also recorded (which is an advantage for me since I had the opportunity to know all earnings of my husband. Haha).

At the start it was difficult to record all these but it became a habit and then it was much easier and enjoyable too.  At the end of the year you could evaluate how much you've spent and allocated for every account. You can also compare your earnings and expenses from the previous year.

With this I have improved my spending habits because I was able to analyze and adjust our finances based on our needs and make sure that we stayed on track with our budget plans. It also made me think twice before buying things for myself whether I really need it or not.

RBF (R100125)