The National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, led by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, has confiscated some P2.82-billion worth of counterfeit goods from January to May.
Bulk of the value of seized goods were from joint operations of NCIPR members the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, and Optical Media Board which was estimated at P2 billion.
The NBI seized fake products in the first five months of the year amounting to P535.65 million.
OMB operations netted P267.66 million while the PNP had P14.29 million.
“Fighting counterfeiting and piracy is fighting corruption and criminality. If there is a proliferation of counterfeit products and pirated items, expect that many local businesses will suffer and revenues of the government will be affected,” said IPOPHL Deputy Director General Allan B. Gepty.
“The delisiting of the Philippines from the United States Trade Representative Special 301 Watch List for three years now is not only IPOPHL’s accomplishment but also a product of the concerted efforts of the NCIPR members, the business sector, brand owners, and the government as a whole,” IPOPHL Director General Josephine R. Santiago added. (PNA)