The Bureau of Customs (BOC), in its pursuit of expediting trade and facilitating e-Commerce goods, has successfully conducted a capacity-building session on “Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the Context of Cross-Border e-Commerce Transactions” on March 20, 2024.

In partnership with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and ARISE Plus Philippines, the IPR Workshop aimed to enhance the enforcement of intellectual property rights in cross-border e-commerce shipments, fostering stronger collaboration between BOC and IPOPHL. It also offered Trade Regulatory Government Agencies (TRGA), including the Philippine Trade Facilitation Committee (PTFC), and e-commerce platforms a deeper understanding of the crucial role of IPR in cross-border e-commerce.

Undersecretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) opened the session and emphasized that “We are set to update the e-commerce road map. It’s very interesting what will be moving forward this coming year and the years to come. I hope that whatever results from this workshop will be shared with the Department of Trade and Industry so that we’ll be able to adapt to actionable items what we can do to promote e-commerce growth in the country.”

In his Remarks, Atty. Rowel Barba, Director General of the IPOPHL shared that “Through greater collaboration we have the power to propel our collective efforts in IP rights enforcement to not only ensure the security or our cross-border e-Commerce transactions but to also strengthen the digital economy. By safeguarding IP rights, e-commerce can serve as a driver of of innovation, economic growth, and consumer welfare in the global marketplace.”

During the workshop, Atty. Ann Claire C. Cabochan, Deputy Director General, and Atty. Maria Katrina D. Rivera, Attorney V, both from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), delivered presentations emphasizing the role of e-commerce platforms in protecting intellectual property (IP) rights. They also discussed the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors in addressing IP issues, highlighted by the signing of the e-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding on March 1, 2021. Additionally, Mr. Paul Oliver N. Pacunayen, Acting Chief of the BOC Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), shared updates on the BOC’s initiatives to safeguard IP rights in cross-border shipments, resulting in the seizure of counterfeit products valued at PhP65.2 billion (USD 1.1 billion) between 2019 and 2023.

Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio’s leadership underscores the significance of this workshop, aligning with his vision that “Securing intellectual property rights in cross-border e-commerce enhances trade and boosts the digital economy, driving innovation and growth globally.”