PH confiscates P18.64B in fake goods from Jan-Sep, a 47% drop

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines reported that the government confiscated P18.64 billion worth of counterfeit goods from January to September, a 47 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

Apparel constituted the largest portion of the confiscated counterfeit items.

The Bureau of Customs seized the majority of the counterfeit goods, valued at P17.21 billion.

Other agencies that contributed to the confiscations include the National Bureau of Investigation with P980.36 million and the Philippine National Police with P456.72 million.

Officials are also investigating reports of counterfeit anti-rabies vaccines being sold in various regions.

The National Committee on IP Rights (NCIPR) is developing a five-year action plan to address intellectual property rights issues.

Potential long-term solutions include proposing amendments to the procurement law.