Marcos signs into law PPP Code, Internet Transactions Act while under Covid isolation

President Marcos signed the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines (PPP Code) and the Internet Transactions Act of 2023 on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Marcos signed the two landmark bills while in isolation in his residence in Bahay Pangulo.

"He said the two bills show the country’s commitment and readiness to accelerate its development and to embrace the digital economy," Garafil said in a statement.

The enactment of the PPP Code, or “An Act Providing for the Public-Private Partnership of the Philippines”, signed as Republic Act No. 11966, will establish a stable and predictable environment for collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the gaps in the infrastructure systems and also free up much-needed resources to enable the government to pursue other equally important projects and initiatives.

The PPP Code incorporates best practices from over three decades of experience in implementing the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, ensuring that the country build better infrastructure projects and mitigate risks during their implementation.

The Internet Transactions Act (ITA) of 2023, signed as Republic Act No. 11967, on the other hand, will provide the people with the mechanisms to confidently embrace the digital economy.

The ITA, or “An Act Protecting Online Consumers and Merchants Engaged in Internet Transactions, Creating For This Purpose the Electronic Commerce Bureau, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and For Other Purposes”, highlights the government’s efforts to not only protect consumers and merchants, but also harness e-commerce as a tool for growth and development as it upholds fair business practices, fosters innovation, and institutes effective mechanisms for dispute resolution.

It also establishes the E-Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which will spearhead the implementation of the law, as well as the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, and the Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap.

Marcos was supposed to sign the two bills in a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday afternoon but had to cancel the event after testing positive for Covid-19 on Monday night. He will be under isolation for four more days.