VICE President Jejomar Binay reminded government agencies concerned to strictly enforce the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2008 and the Consumer Act to protect Filipinos from the harmful effects of counterfeit drugs.
“Counterfeit drugs and medicines can literally kill our people. Fake drugs cause real pain and suffering and the victims are hardworking Filipinos who spend hard-earned money to buy medicine. This must not be allowed to continue,” Binay said.
In a speech at the First Philippine Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit, Binay also stressed the importance of protecting intellectual- property rights (IPR) in bringing the country closer to its goal of economic development and global competitiveness.
“IPR violations impede creative growth, diffuse creative capital and kill local industries,” he said.
According to Binay, IPR violations also hinder the development of local industries, which provide employment for thousands of Filipinos in community-based enterprises. Piracy and counterfeiting serve as constraints to international trade and foreign investment, since foreign investors are wary of doing business with countries that have inadequate IPR enforcement mechanisms.
“Piracy and counterfeiting also deprive the government of income from taxes, which may be used to feed the poor, educate our youth and provide shelter for the homeless,” Binay added.
He, likewise, cited the implications to national security of IPR violations, in particular the increasing volume of intelligence information that links piracy and counterfeiting to terrorism and organized crime syndicates, and stressed the need for national security and defense agencies to pay special attention to the issue.
Binay acknowledged government efforts at establishing the legal infrastructure for IPR protection. Among those he cited were the Philippines’s updating of the IPR law to conform with international standards; the establishment of IPR courts and provision of specialized training for judges; and the enactment of special rules for the issuance of ex-parte search and seizure orders in civil cases for IPR holders.
He also lauded the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) for codifying a clear and comprehensive action plan to battle piracy and protect intellectual property.
The committee provides capacity building and the updating of skills of law enforcers, pursuant to the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.
“Still, if we are to put more teeth into our campaign to protect intellectual-property rights, we should, and we must, continue to strengthen institutions like the BLA. We must be able to bring to our side highly qualified lawyers and to do this, we should consider increasing their compensation package,” the Vice President said.
He also encouraged the establishment of extension offices of the Bureau of Legal Affairs of the Intellectual Property Office in major cities such as Cebu and Davao.
Likewise, the Vice President called on an increased level of enforcement and cooperation from local government units and national agencies.
He also encouraged the private sector to be more active in exercising their intellectual-property rights by becoming more willing to prosecute and seek justice for infringements.
“The private sector is our indispensable partner in eliminating piracy and counterfeiting. We may have law-enforcement officers willing to provide support and protection, but they cannot act without the involvement of IP rights holders,” he said.
