A new help desk on intellectual property (IP) rights has been launched at Greenhills Mall in San Juan City, in a bid to tighten enforcement and improve compliance in one of the country’s long-identified hubs for counterfeit goods.
The initiative, led by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines in partnership with the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, aims to bring IP enforcement and awareness directly to traders and consumers at the mall.
The IP Rights Help Desk will be staffed by IPOPHL and member agencies of the NCIPR, serving as an on-site center where tenants and visitors can seek guidance, report violations, and access information on complying with IP laws. It will also assist sellers who want to transition to legitimate products, including locally registered brands.
Nathaniel S. Arevalo, IPOPHL deputy director general for policy, legal and enforcement, said the move builds on years of engagement with mall management to curb illicit trade and address concerns raised in international watch lists.
“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,” Arevalo said.
Greenhills Mall has been cited in the United States Trade Representative’s Notorious Markets List as well as the European Commission’s Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List, making it a focal point for enforcement efforts.
Officials said the help desk is part of a broader strategy to encourage voluntary compliance among traders, alongside stricter tenant policies and enforcement measures already in place at the mall.
Marimel D. Porciuncula, officer-in-charge director of the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry, said shifting to IP-compliant operations could open access to financing and larger supply chains for small businesses.
“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,” she said.
Mall management, trader groups, and IP rights holders also signaled support for the initiative, which will be backed by regular inter-agency coordination.
Christine Pangilinan-Canlapan, supervising director of IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office, said the NCIPR will hold regular meetings to monitor developments and ensure consistent operations of the help desk.
“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.
