In 2025, the Philippines took bold strides in its fight against counterfeiting and piracy. The National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) led a sweeping campaign that underscored the government’s commitment to consumer safety and economic growth. The NCIPR is an inter-agency body tasked to formulate policies and strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Philippines. It is composed of 15 member agencies, with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as chair and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) as vice-chair and secretariat.
Seizures and raids in Philippines’ anti-counterfeit enforcement
Associate
Federis & Associates Law Offices
Anchored in a “whole of government” approach, the NCIPR’s enforcement efforts resulted in the seizure of counterfeit goods worth PHP18.64 billion (USD320.5 million) between January and September 2025, setting a new benchmark in the Philippines’ IP enforcement.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) accounted for the largest share of seizures through border operations, with a total haul amounting to PHP17.21 billion. On 23 May 2025, BOC authorities conducted a major raid operation in Divisoria, Manila, and seized 1.27 million counterfeit items valued at PHP15.8 billion. These included bags, apparel and accessories illegally using famous brands such as Louis Vuitton, Coach and Tory Burch.
The National Bureau of Investigation also reported seizures of PHP980.4 million worth of counterfeit products, while the Philippine National Police contributed seizures amounting to PHP456.7 million. These figures show a substantial increase compared to the 2024 figures, which registered PHP14.5 million and PHP25.4 million, respectively, reflecting intensified operations across both physical and online markets.
Strengthened inter-agency co-ordination enhances Philippines’ IP enforcement
The NCIPR emphasised the implementation of its anti-counterfeit and anti-piracy policy, ensuring streamlined enforcement and enhanced co-operation across member agencies.
The Greenhills Shopping Centre (GSC), in co-ordination with the IPOPHL and the local government, enforced a “three strike policy” against sellers of counterfeit goods, which resulted in the removal of 299 tenants for repeated IP violations. The GSC is still a prominent hotspot of pirated and counterfeit goods in the Philippines, and is currently the only Philippine establishment cited in the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) notorious markets list.
To address this, GSC management and the NCIPR have been working closely with vendors and business owners to educate them on basic IP rights and provide guidance as they transition to legitimate trade. By the second quarter of 2026, a dedicated help desk, staffed by the IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office and other NCIPR member agencies, will be stationed at the GSC to institutionalise on-site enforcement and provide immediate support to consumers and businesses.
Efforts against counterfeit medicines also intensified, with co-ordinated actions between the Food and Drug Administration and law enforcement targeting the rise of fake anti-rabies vaccines and other illicit medical products, which pose direct risks to public health.
The DTI fully enforced the Internet Transactions Act, which sets clearer duties and obligations for online sellers and digital platforms. The Department of Justice maintained momentum with a 98% disposition rate for IP-related cases in 2024. This progress continued into 2025, owing to the NCIPR’s continued capacity building workshops for judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers to better equip them in handling and prosecuting IP-related cases.
Digital and online anti-piracy measures target e-commerce violations
The IPOPHL also turned its attention to the digital sphere, addressing the proliferation of counterfeit goods sold on e-commerce platforms.
The IPOPHL’s voluntary administrative site-blocking initiative successfully restricted access to about 30 pirate websites. The e-commerce memorandum of understanding (MoU) expanded to 108 signatories, with platforms such as Shopee and Lazada achieving takedown rates of 93.6% and 85.5%, respectively. The latest review of the MoU showed a decline in repeat infringers, reflecting more responsive co-ordination between platforms and rights holders.
To complement enforcement, the IPOPHL implemented the Revised Rules on Administrative Proceedings on IP Violations, which introduced delimited damages and accelerated the resolution of IP violation cases. The IPOPHL also promoted alternative dispute resolution to settle IP disputes without litigation.
International recognition on Philippines’ progress in IP enforcement reform
The Philippines’ robust enforcement efforts have earned international recognition, and the nation has not been included on the USTR’s Special 301 watch list for 12 straight years. The Philippines has also strengthened its reputation in anti-money laundering efforts, with expectations of being delisted from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in 2025.
The IPOPHL’s acting director general, Nathaniel Arevalo, has expressed optimism, saying that “the country remains confident that its latest achievements and sustained reforms will be reflected positively in the forthcoming USTR report”.
Monica G Bugayong is an associate at Federis & Associates Law Offices
FEDERIS & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICESSuites 2002 to 2006, 88 Corporate Centre,
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Contact details:
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E: mbugayong@federislaw.com.ph
