A Help Desk was opened today, Monday, at Greenhills Shopping Center to bolster respect for intellectual property (IP) rights and enforcement against counterfeit products directly at the heart of one of the country’s most persistent high-risk markets for counterfeit trade.
The Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Help Desk is a landmark initiative by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the National Committee on IP Rights (NCIPR). The Help Desk, being manned by IPOPHL and other member agencies of the NCIPR, will provide an on-the-ground hub where tenants and visitors can freely consult, report concerns and readily access IP-related guidance.
It will also support sellers who want to shift to legitimate products, especially locally registered brands, and guide them on how to adjust their business practices to comply with IP laws.
Deputy Director General (DDG) for Policy, Legal and Enforcement, and External Relations Nathaniel S. Arevalo said the initiative reflects years of collaboration with the GSC management to curb illicit trade and help clear the Philippines from foreign watch lists, namely the United States Trade Representative’s Notorious Markets List where GSC is cited as the only Philippine mall, and the European Commission’s Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List.
“The IP Rights Help Desk is about meeting the problem where it exists—on the ground, in real time. By combining visibility, education and swift coordination, we are making compliance more accessible and enforcement more effective. This is how we build lasting change, by working with communities and fostering an environment of IP respect and understanding,” said DDG Arevalo.
As vice-chair of the NCIPR, IPOPHL has maintained active dialogue with GSC management regarding its efforts to strengthen enforcement measures and promote IP awareness and respect among its community of small-business traders. Long identified as a hotspot for counterfeit and pirated goods, GSC has taken steps in recent years to address violations, including stricter tenant policies and enforcement measures.
However, both IPOPHL and GSC recognize that sustainable reform requires a more holistic, community-driven approach, aligned with IPOPHL’s whole-of-society strategy in combating IP violations.
“By facilitating this transition, we are not just helping merchants comply with the law; we are helping them gain access to essential financial services such as access to formal credit, allowing them to expand their businesses and participate in large-scale supply chains,” said Officer-in- Charge Director Marimel D. Porciuncula of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau. OIC-Dir. Porciuncula further emphasized that businesses first need to be IP-compliant in order to benefit from these opportunities.
Various stakeholders expressed their support and their alignment with this strategy, including the Greenhills Muslim Traders Association, IP rights holders associations represented by prominent IP law offices Reyes Rara & Associates and Cesar C. Cruz & Partners, and GMA Network, Inc. Also present as a guest was Korea Copyright Protection Agency Director Lee Sook Houng, who also lauded the initiative.
Greenhills Shopping Center management likewise affirmed its commitment to working closely with IPOPHL and NCIPR, with Greenhills Assistant Vice President James Candelaria noting that “IP property potential is not just a responsibility but also a cornerstone of innovation, creativity and sustainable business growth.”
IP Rights Enforcement Office Supervising Director Christine Pangilinan-Canlapan said the initiative will be backed by regular inter-agency coordination and operational planning. “The NCIPR will meet regularly to assess developments on the ground and thresh out a clear plan for the consistent manning and operations of the Help Desk.
Our goal is to ensure that enforcement is not only visible, but reliable, responsive and sustained,” she said.
