Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 17) — The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on Tuesday said the country has been making strides in running after counterfeit products, as it reacted to a report citing the Philippines as one of the top exporters of dangerous fake goods worldwide.
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RELATED: PH among top global exporters of dangerous, fake goods
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Speaking to CNN Philippines, Atty. Marlita Dagsa, enforcement chief of the IPOPHL, said the large number of seizures of fake goods could mean the country is doing a good job in stopping counterfeit products. In most cases, she added, the country is only used as a transit point for pirated goods.
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Dagsa was reacting to the 2022 study “Dangerous Fakes: Trade In Counterfeit Goods That Pose Health, Safety And Environmental Risks,” by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
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The study found that the Philippines ranked 13th globally as a provenance or origin country of dangerous fake goods from 2017 to 2019, and 4th among countries that export counterfeit food products that pose risks to health and safety.
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Dagsa said the Philippines seized some ₱8 billion worth of counterfeit items in 2017, and the number rose to around ₱21 billion to ₱23 billion in 2018 to 2019.
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“So, malaki nga siya compared to other countries. Ibig sabihin lang nito… marami tayong ginagawa. Sa border pa lang, nai-implement na natin ‘yung IP (intellectual property) rights, which is good,” Dagsa said.
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[Translation: So, it’s bigger compared to other countries. This only means we have a lot of efforts in place. We are able to implement intellectual property rights from the border, which is good.]
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However, Dagsa stressed that importation of fake products is still the bigger concern compared to exportation.
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“Ang [Bureau of] Customs naman natin, both import and export. Pero ang seizures natin, more on importation — ibig sabihin, hindi galing sa’tin,” Dagsa said, adding other countries are merely using the Philippines as transit point.
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[Translation: Our Bureau of Customs is monitoring both imports and exports. But our seizures are more on importation — which means the products were not from us.]
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To prevent the exportation of fake products, the IPOPHL said it has proposed to augment funds and manpower under RA 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code for the enforcement of intellectual property rights as well as provide stiffer penalties for violators.
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The public was also reminded to be cautious of the products they buy.
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“Kasi ‘yung mindset natin, tayong mga Pilipino, mahilig sa mga mura, not knowing na dangerous na pala to consume the product,” Dagsa said. “So, siguro, change of mindset, and of course, respect for intellectual property. Be very mindful kung anong binibili mo.”
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