The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has been recognized for its exceptional efforts in intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement, receiving the IP Citation for Attaining the Highest Number of Seizures in the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) in 2024 at the Gawad Yamang Isip Awards 2025. The prestigious award was presented by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
The award formally recognized the BOC’s leading role in the fight against counterfeit and pirated goods. Atty. Reggie Anne D. Pamatian, IPR Specialist IV of IPOPHL’s IP Enforcement Division, presented the award to BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio during the 191st NCIPR Regular Meeting, hosted by the BOC on May 26, 2025. The recognition underscores President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for an infringement-free market that promotes investment and consumer trust.
In 2024, the BOC spearheaded IPR enforcement, recording a staggering ₱34.698 billion in seizures, representing an impressive 85% of the total ₱40.99 billion confiscated by the NCIPR. A significant operation in Binondo, Manila, alone yielded over ₱11 billion worth of counterfeit luxury brand goods.
The BOC’s commitment to IPR enforcement continues into 2025, with ₱15.8 billion worth of counterfeit goods already seized as of the end of April, a testament to their ongoing collaboration with brand representatives and partner IPR enforcement agencies.
“Protecting the intellectual property rights of innovators and brand owners remains central to our overarching objective of cultivating a fair, secure, and dynamic trade environment,” stated BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio. “In the coming years, we will further amplify our efforts to ensure that intellectual property rights protection remains a central element of our economic and trade policy development plan.”
