The National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) targets to hit P40 billion in the value of seized counterfeit goods this year, breaking anew last year’s haul of P26.89 billion, according to Rowel Barba, director-general of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and acting chair of NCIPR. 

In the first nine months of 2024, the estimated market value of intellectual property (IP) infringing goods seized by the NCIPR reached a staggering P35.24 billion, surpassing the previous record of P26.89 billion in 2023.

Barba told reporters on the sidelines of the NCIPR leaders gathering in Manila yesterday historically, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) accounts for 99 percent of total seizures among the 15 agencies under the inter-agency committee.

Barba also said he expects a surge in seizures in the last quarter of the year, especially during the holiday season when NCIPR intensifies even more its crackdown due to the surge in the entry of fake goods.

“I’m sure there will be a surge, but the BOC will surely be more vigilant in protecting our borders,” Barba said.

Barba said 60 percent of the goods hauled so far this year are   apparel.

 BOC’s seizures accounted for an impressive 99 percent of the total haul year-to-date and marked an increase from P25.38 billion in the entire 2023.

Aside from the BOC, the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation also contributed seizures amounting to P25.36 million and P14.5 million, respectively.