The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) backed on Thursday the immediate passage of the "Internet Transactions Act" to protect online consumers.
Senators on Thursday tackled Senate Bill 1591, the proposed “Internet Transactions Act” authored by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay, which primarily seeks to promote the growth of electronic commerce or e-commerce in the Philippines by building trust between online sellers and consumers.
“The bill will promote and support Filipino platforms and businesses based on the principle that domestic online platforms shall be treated under the law equally as offshore non-resident online platforms,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
“This means domestic online platforms shall be given opportunities to grow and be competitive in the digital market. What’s more, the Senate bill provides incentives to encourage newly registered online enterprises, especially during this time of pandemic, to operate above-ground,” he added.
Lopez said the bill will protect the interests of the Filipino consumers by providing them effective remedies for their complaints, even if the sellers are located abroad.
He added that the bill will also ensure the government’s regulatory authority over foreign platforms or sellers.
Under the proposed law, the DTI will have the authority to take down websites or issue cease-and-desist orders which will give the government agency prompt and effective means to reduce harm to consumers caused by websites selling illegal products and services.
“This bill will balance the interests of entrepreneurs, consumers, and the government by establishing a forum for stakeholders to raise issues and concerns surrounding e-commerce,” Lopez added.
President Duterte mentioned the proposed bill during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July.
He directed the DTI and other government agencies to work closely with Congress to ensure that the provisions of the proposed bill are responsive to the needs of consumers while promoting the growth of e-commerce in the country.