IPOPHL, Manila airport partner to prevent transport of fake goods
THE INTELLECTUAL Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has teamed up with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to prevent the movement of counterfeit items via air travel.
In a statement on Thursday, the IPOPHL said its partnership with the managing agency of the country’s main gateway comes amid the “revenge travel” phenomenon, or the surge of travelers in the aftermath of mobility restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our MOU (memorandum of understanding) also assures that we have MIAA’s full cooperation in ensuring IP-safe travels,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said.
“By safe, we mean destinations are safeguarded from counterfeit goods. We achieve this by jointly developing efficient measures to thwart the importation, exportation and sale of such goods through and at the airport, all while keeping in mind the convenience of our travelers,” he said.
Under the agreement, the IPOPHL and other members of the National Committee on IP Rights (NCIPR) will provide training to MIAA personnel to improve their knowledge on IP-related laws, rules, and regulations in relation to fake goods.
“MIAA and IPOPHL will share critical information and statistics to monitor the movement of counterfeit goods and help other enforcement agencies in their surveillance and investigation of identities involved in IP infringement to the extent permitted by the Data Privacy Law of 2012,” the IPOPHL said.
Currently, the warning related to carrying IP-infringing items is only part of various declaration forms at the entry points in airports.
“We hope we can conduct joint IP awareness activities, and put up more information materials on IP in the airport that are highly visible to the public,” Mr. Barba said.
Under Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariffication Act, IP infringing goods are barred from being imported and exported. Violators could be charged with penalties ranging from P100,000 to P300,000 and/or imprisonment of 31 days to a year.
The MIAA, a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Transportation department, is mandated to manage the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
