HUNDREDS of boxes of fake Lacoste, Louis Vuitton and Oakley products and pirated DVDs and CDs that could fetch a price of as much as P350 million in the market were destroyed by government officials in Camp Crame yesterday in celebration of the World Anti-Counterfeiting Day.

The counterfeit Lacoste rubber shoes, Louis Vuitton bags and Oakley sunglasses and computer bags were seized in separate operations conducted by the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Customs, said Director General Ricardo R. Blancaflor, head of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

An industrial shredder and a Special Action Force’s V150 commando tank were used to destroy the counterfeit goods in the presence of local and foreign officials.  Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno, Ronnie Rickets of the Optical Media Board, noted violinist John Lesaca and senior PNP officials headed by Chief Supt. Gil Hitosis of the Directorate for Police-Community Relations were also present.

Blancaflor said the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated goods has become a global problem that requires urgent solution.

Trade across borders also raised the concern for more effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, he said.

Blancaflor said they have laid down six paths to achieve an Intellectual Property - Friendly Philippines, foremost of which is a “holistic approach” to an effective enforcement.

He also lauded local government units for taking an active role in the campaign against pirated goods. He particularly cited Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim for his order to stop the sale of pirated DVDs and CDs in the city.

Blancaflor said that the IPOPHL and the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights have both noted an increase in the seizure of fake goods in the country.

From January to May alone, authorities were able to confiscate 1,877,677 pieces and 2,539.5 boxes of counterfeit and pirated goods valued at P1.72 billion.

The IPOPHL is the lead government agency responsible for handling the registration and conflict resolution of intellectual property rights. It was created by virtue of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos.

Intellectual Property refers to any creation or product of the human mind or intellect and could be an invention, an original design, a practical application of a good idea, a mark of ownership such as trademark, literary and artistic works among others.