MANILA - The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) launched on Thursday the Juan for the World (JFTW) Program, a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and private-sector backed initiative that will enable 100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to protect their trademarks and be competitive in global markets. "We hope to make them realize the opportunities in the global markets and how early protection of trademarks can help them grow their business with ease," IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba said at the launch of the program. From 2012 when the Philippines acceded to the Madrid Protocol to 2020, IPOPHL recorded some 399 resident registrations under the international filing system. Of this, only 154 or 39 percent are small entities. "This low rate is attributable to the lack of financing and know-how on the international trademark application process. Our newest Juan for the World Program will take down all these barriers," Barba sa