P8.2-B fake goods confiscated in 2017: IPOPHL

“The value of fake goods confiscated by the government fluctuates every year and it depends on the class of goods and the market value of the original goods in the formal economy,” said IPOPHL Director General Josephine Santiago. (PNA photo)

MANILA — Some PHP8.2 billion worth of counterfeit and pirated goods were seized by the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) in 2017, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reported Monday.

This was higher by 26 percent than 2016’s value of seized fake goods at around PHP6.5 billion.

The NCIPR is composed of various government agencies, with IPOPHL as its vice chair, which can enforce operation to seize counterfeit goods sold in the local market.

It is composed of Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Customs (BOC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Optical Media Board (OMB), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice, Food and Drug Administration, National Book Development Board, Office of the Special Envoy for Transnational Crime, National Telecommunication Commission, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and IPOPHL.

In 2017, PNP and NBI served 309 search warrants the BOC issued 16 warrants of seizure and detention. The OMB also conducted 2,770 inspections.

Bulk of the seized counterfeit and pirated goods in the previous year was electronics, optical media, and pharmaceutical and personal care products.

A different trend on fake products was seen last year as the top counterfeit goods in 2016 and 2015 were jewelry and watches. Other counterfeit goods in the previous years include optical media, cigarettes and alcohol, and handbags and wallets.

“The value of fake goods confiscated by the government fluctuates every year and it depends on the class of goods and the market value of the original goods in the formal economy,” said IPOPHL Director General Josephine Santiago.

“As this reflects the growing market demand for electronic goods and products involving public health and safety, we warn the public to be wary of counterfeiters exploiting this high demand. This alarming development underscores the need for the various relevant agencies of government and the intellectual property rights owners to address this serious concern. The IPOPHL, for its part, continues to intensify its campaign against the selling and buying of these counterfeit products,” she added. (PNA)