BARGAIN HUNTING The Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City is a popular destination for bargain hunters. The mall’s management says it has discussed with the government a transition plan to end its reputation as a hub for counterfeit and pirated items. —Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — The Greenhills Shopping Center may yet get rid of its tag as a hotbed of counterfeit and pirated items.
This as the management of the popular shopping center met early this month with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and discussed plans to stop the sale of counterfeit items inside its premises by 2027. The 16-hectare shopping complex in the city of San Juan in Metro Manila, one of the country’s oldest shopping centers, is the lone Philippine entry on the US piracy and counterfeit watch list, joining other markets such as China’s Chenghai District and the Heera Panna in Mumbai, India, that are notorious for selling counterfeit and pirated goods. READ: Work plan eyed to address Greenhills inclusion in US piracy watch list Among these fake products are electronics, perfumes, watches, shoes, accessories and fashion items that have long been patronized as they are cheaper than the original branded goods.
The US Trade Representative (USTR) had said that the counterfeit market not only undermines brand owners but also poses health and safety risks to consumers, who may be unaware that they are purchasing a fake product that does not meet quality and .
