DTI champions inter-agency collaboration on Internet Transactions Act | Department of Trade and Industry Philippines

Taguig City, Philippines—To enhance consumer protection within the digital marketplace, the Department of Trade and Industry’s E-Commerce Bureau (DTI-ECB) hosted on September 19 the first inter-agency consultation on the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) implementation.

“While the DTI is the primary agency that has regulatory jurisdiction over the use of the internet for e-commerce activities, the success of the ITA depends on inter-agency collaboration to address the evolving challenges of the digital space,” Undersecretary for E-Commerce Group Jean Pacheco said as she emphasized the need for a coordinated approach.

Usec. Pacheco requested participating agencies to submit a comprehensive list of online consumer complaints received since the ITA’s effectivity on 20 December 2023, and a detailed list of items regulated and prohibited in online trade.

Additionally, the undersecretary underscored the DTI’s commitment to developing innovative IT tools to support the ITA’s implementation. These tools include:

Referral and Tracking of Complaints: To streamline and expedite the resolution of consumer complaints;
Online Business Database: To establish a comprehensive database of e-commerce players operating in the Philippines;
E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark: To assure consumers of safety and security when transacting online; and
Online Dispute Resolution: To offer an alternative and efficient mode of resolving disputes arising from online transactions.

The participating agencies also shared their respective consumer complaints handling process.

Representatives from key agencies were present at the meeting, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs, Civil Aeronautics Board, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Tourism, Food and Drug Administration, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, National Commission on Senior Citizens, National Bureau of Investigation, National Privacy Commission, Optical Media Board, Philippine Competition Commission, and the Philippine National Police.

The University of the Philippines Law Center and USAID through the Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development also supported the meeting.

Furthermore, Simone Di Castri, Co-Founder and Co-Head of the Cambridge Suptech Lab, was present and provided an update on the DTI’s groundbreaking “From Suptech to Govtech” initiative. This will harness artificial intelligence to enhance the government’s capacity to monitor and enforce consumer protection provisions under the ITA.

“The Internet Transactions Act is our roadmap to a truly inclusive digital future. Aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ vision, it empowers every Filipino to participate in the digital economy while propelling our businesses onto the local and global stage,” said DTI Secretary Cris Roque.

“Success depends on everyone—government, industry, and citizens—working hand in hand to build a fair, secure, and trustworthy online marketplace where Filipino consumers are protected and businesses can thrive with confidence,” the trade chief added as she stressed the necessity for unified action. ♦

Date of release: 15 October 2024

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