Geographical Indications (GIs) have been recognised as a form of intellectual property since the enactment of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines in 1997. In 2022, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) released the Rules and Regulations on Geographic Indications, officially establishing a registration system.
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Federis & Associates Law Offices
The GI rules expressly detail the rights of registrants to prevent third parties from falsely using or misrepresenting a GI. The GI rules likewise narrow eligible applicants to producers, their organisations or associations, and government agencies or local government units with jurisdiction over the area.
Applicants are required to submit a manual of specifications together with certifications validating the causal link between the product’s specific quality, reputation or other characteristic of the goods and geographical area. The GI rules also provide a system for the revocation of a registered GI where the prescribed standards are no longer met.
IPOPHL boosts Philippine GI registrations
Initially, the IPOPHL identified more than 30 heritage products located in different provinces in the country. By 2023, the IPOPHL welcomed its first ever GI registration, the Guimaras mangoes, with a reputation of being the sweetest mangoes produced in the country.
In 2025, two local GIs were registered: Aklan pi?a, a handwoven textile recognised in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and Alburquerque asin tibuok, an artisanal salt identified by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. In 2026, the application for 罢’苍补濒补办 tau Sebu, currently registered as a collective mark for the 罢’苍补濒补办 textiles made by the weavers of Lake Sebu, was published.
Recently, the IPOPHL has conducted visits, stakeholder consultations and capacity building activities in the province of Zambales and the Bicol region to move forward their prospective applications for the Zambales mangoes and Bikol pili products. These prospective applications are further supported by the IPOPHL’s partnership with the Agence Fran?aise de Développement (AFD) in France, and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The GI rules likewise provided a mechanism for foreign applicants to register their GIs in the Philippines. As of writing, several foreign GIs such as cognac, Scotch whisky, Parmigiano Reggiano, prosecco and C?tes de Provence have entered the Philippine GI Register. In connection with the ongoing Philippine-EU Free-Trade Agreement, the IPOPHL has also published an extensive list of European GIs for entry in the Philippine Register.
Strengthening Philippine GI registration enforcement
Strengthening the GI registration system and expanding institutional support are welcome developments. These concerted efforts reflect the recognition and valuation of both the government and various stakeholders of the cultural and economic value embedded in products shaped by generations of tradition. Such tangible support is a driver for supporting and sustaining communities, preserving livelihoods and safeguarding cultural practices.
Enforcement remains a work in progress. Stakeholders and producers alike have reported instances of counterfeiting and false designation of origin. Producers of Guimaras mangoes have reported other sellers misrepresenting products as originating from Guimaras. Prominent online accounts have shed light on counterfeit asin tibuok, which are inferior in craftsmanship and differ in taste from the authentic product. Multiple reports have also noted the circulation of counterfeit indigenous weaves in the Philippine market.
GIs are currently protected through trademark law. Under section 169.1 of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, liability arises when one falsely designates the origin of goods or services. Counterfeiters may likewise be held liable for unfair competition, particularly for passing off their products as those of legitimate producers of the GIs. These acts carry criminal penalties, including imprisonment ranging from two to five years.
Philippines bills strengthen GI protection
There are bills pending in congress aimed at solidifying GI protection by introducing specific civil, administrative and criminal penalties for GI infringement. The Bureau of Trademarks director, Jesus Antonio Ros, has expressed that GI violations should be treated as a crime against the economic and cultural interests of the state, prosecutable by the state itself without the need of private stakeholders to initiate the process.
The landscape for GI protection in the Philippines is promising. The country is home to a wide range of heritage products that merit recognition, protection and promotion. The continued progress in GI registration, growing institutional support, and the prospect of stronger enforcement mechanisms signal a move towards more meaningful protection for the producers, communities and traditions these GIs represent.
Ranielle Evangelista is an associate at Federis & Associates Law Offices
FEDERIS & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICES
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Contact details:
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E: revangelista@federislaw.com.ph
