Patent registration of vendor’s plastic-to-fuel device invention sought

Local

CEBU City is seeking to patent a Carbon Public Market vendor’s plastic-to-fuel device to protect a locally developed green technology.

This follows a recommendation from the City Council’s Committee on Laws, chaired by Councilor Mikel Rama, to have the invention evaluated and registered with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

In a committee report, the panel urged the City Legal Office to evaluate inventions by Benito Samson, a Carbon vendor who designed a device that converts plastic waste into fuel and a solar-powered e-bike for collecting garbage inside the market, and, if qualified, facilitate their registration.

The recommendation stems from a proposed resolution referred to the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Styling under a sangguniang panlungsod resolution adopted in August 2025.

According to the committee, Samson’s plastic-to-fuel device uses simple materials—such as an electric heater, metal containers, tubing, and glass jars—to convert plastic waste into diesel. The report also cited his solar-powered e-bike, which roams the Carbon Public Market to collect scattered garbage, as a practical application of renewable energy in improving market cleanliness.

“These innovations exemplify resourcefulness, creativity, and a deep commitment to community service,” the committee said, adding that they could inspire other residents to develop practical responses to environmental challenges.

The committee emphasized that patent registration is crucial to prevent unauthorized use of the inventions and to ensure that their creator is legally protected.

Citing Section 21 of Republic Act No. 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, the report noted that any technical solution that is new, involves an inventive step, and is industrially applicable may be patented.

It also referenced Supreme Court rulings, including Pearl & Dean, Inc. vs. Shoemart, Inc. (G.R. No. 148222, Aug. 15, 2003), which held that a patent is essential to legally preclude others from copying or profiting from an invention.

“No patent, no protection,” the committee said.

The report outlined the patent application process with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), including the filing requirements, formality examination, publication, substantive examination, and eventual grant of patent, provided all legal and procedural requirements are met.

It stressed that for an invention to qualify for protection, it must be proven new to the world and possess the essential elements of novelty, originality, and precedence, as affirmed in Manzano vs. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 113388, Sept. 5, 1997).

The Committee on Laws recommended that the matter be formally referred to the City Legal Office to assess whether Samson’s inventions meet patentability requirements and, if so, to proceed with registration.

It also suggested that the Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture consider the patent registration as a form of incentive and a demonstration of the city government’s support for creative Cebuanos.

Samson’s plastic-to-fuel invention gained public attention after it was featured in an award-winning MyTV Cebu special in August 2025, where he demonstrated how plastic cellophane could be transformed into usable fuel using a basic setup.(TGP)