THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (Ipophl) on Monday said it has opened a help desk where stakeholders and the public can seek consultation, report concerns and readily access IP-related guidance for free.
The IP Rights Help Desk, a partnership with the National Committee on IP Rights (NCIPR), is located at Virra Mall in the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City.
The NCIPR — which is chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry (DIT) with Ipophl as vice chairman — is composed of Department of Justice, Bureau of Customs, Food and Drug Authority, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Optical Media Board, National Book Development Board, Office of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crime, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and National Telecommunications Commission.
The help desk will also assist 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, Ipophl said.
The initiative is the result of years of collaboration with Greenhills Shopping Center (GSC) management to curb illicit trade and help clear the Philippines from foreign watch lists, including the United States Trade Representative’s Notorious Markets List and the European Commission’s Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List, said Ipophl Deputy Director General Nathaniel Arevalo.
“IP property potential is not just a responsibility but also a cornerstone of innovation, creativity and sustainable business growth,” James Candelaria, GSC assistant vice president, and head of trade fairs and exhibits, said.
While GSC had been identified as a hot spot for counterfeit and pirated goods, its management said it has taken steps to address violations, including stricter tenant policies and enforcement measures.
“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,” Arevalo said at the launch. “This is how we build lasting change, by working with communities, and fostering an environment of IP respect and understanding.”
The initiative is part of the NCIPR Action Plan for 2026–2030, which embodies a “whole-of-society” approach, bringing together government agencies, private sector partners, stakeholders and the public to protect intellectual property rights.
“By establishing this help desk at Greenhills Shopping Center, we are bringing the expertise of the NCIPR member-agencies directly to the doorstep of those who need assistance,” DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau OIC Director Marimel Porciuncula said.
At the launch of the help desk, Arevalo told reporters that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Teodoro Pascua as Ipophl director general.
“He took his oath last Friday,” Arevalo said.
Pascua previously served as deputy director general at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) from 2010 to 2016, and as undersecretary for Consumer Protection at DTI’s Consumer Protection Group from 2016 to 2018.
He was also Ipophl deputy director general for policy and management services from 2018 to 2022.
With Pascua’s appointment, Arevalo is now Ipophl deputy director general for policy, legal and enforcement, and external relations.
