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Congressman Weslie Gatchalian and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Jean Pacheco and Undersecretary Ruth Castelo are bent in penalizing violators on e-commerce online selling when consumers file complaints after sales transactions.
Congressman Gatchalian announced the creation of a bill, the e-Commerce Bureau, that will be under DTI to help and protect consumers and sellers online during the live video conference over Konsyumer Atbp radio program hosted by Alvin Elchico on DZMM.
Penalties for violating online transactions affect both consumer and sellers. Consumers would be fined under existing DTI laws with P50,000 while online sellers and platforms are bound to pay a fine of P500,000 to P5M, to revokation of business license and takedown of business operations.
Consumers who are guilty of ordering foods and goods and later cancels or gave wrong informations will be fined as part of the protection aiding sellers and its delivery riders.
Gatchalian and DTI encouraged all online sellers, whether low profit earners or not, should apply for business registrations to avoid being tagged as unregistered or ‘kolorum’.
This is to level the playing field with brick and mortars who are doing businesses under the exisiting business law.
Asec Pacheco explained that there are benefits and protection given to registered business owners under Republic Act No. 7394, also known as the Consumers Act of the Philippines.
“Barter trading is not included (as it involves taxation, its on a separate bill) in the e-Commerce Bureau and consumer protection agenda,” said Gatchalian.
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“Kailangan ipakita ang presyo price tag. If etong item maganda ang itsura sa online pero hindi naman pag dating sa iyo, pwede niyo ibalik or i-refund ang pera niyo or palitan. Eto po ay covered ng bill natin. At naglagay tayo ng provisions ng code of business conduct between online sellers and buyers,” added Gatchalian.
“PM is key should be avoided. Kailangan po yung presyo at description ay nandun sa information ng produkto,” said Gatchalian. “Kailangan lang natin ayusin ang ating patakaran.”
“Bawal naman po talaga yun (PM is key, etc.) sa batas,” Usec Castelo added.
“The role of the bill is to promote e-commerce in general. The bureau will formulate policies and programs to develop e-commerce sectors. We are also encouraging MSMEs to try online through trainings and e-commerce roadmaps and policies,” Asec Pacheco said.
“All businesses done online are covered in this bill, including transactions in Facebook Market, Instagram, and the likes. But we also want to remind everyone that we are focusing on commercial quantity. If you’re just selling old iPad, it’s not included,” said Gatchalian.
“Profiteering is illegal and we have done more than 500 arrests on this violation,” said Castelo.
Products without FDA approval is not allowed and are illegal said both Gatchalian and Usec Castelo.
Take down provisions by DTI have the means to put down the operations of local or foreign companies transacting business in the Philippines.
The bill is expected for approval after its executive hearing this July.
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