CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) -- Online shopping continues to rise nationwide for both young and old Filipinos. Despite the convenience, there is always a chance for consumers to fall victim to cases of fraud and deceit.
The newly enacted Republic Act 11967, or the Internet Transaction Act of 2023, aims to promote and maintain a robust electronic commerce environment in the country through the establishment of the Electronic Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The new law sets out to protect intellectual property rights, secure online transactions, encourage fair advertising practices and competition, protect consumer rights and data privacy, and promote innovation by regulating commercial activities conducted through the internet and guaranteeing products and services.
The E-Commerce Bureau, once established, will enforce the registration of digital platforms and online merchants; develop consumer education and information programs for consumers; and file appropriate cases against those who violate the provisions of the law, among others.
Laguna 2nd District Representative Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, one of the principal authors of the law, took to social media to provide information on the law and advocated for easy reporting of fraud cases online through the bureau.
“This new law will provide equal protection to consumers and business owners in the e-commerce sector. It will also be easier to report to the DTI frauds or scams in online sales, especially on traditional platforms such as Shopee and Lazada,” Mariano-Hernandez said.
In November 2023, the Philippines was tagged as the country in Asia with the highest rate of online shopping scams among 11 countries surveyed in the 2023 Asia Scam Report of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center.
Jom Garcia, a frequent e-consumer from Laguna, firmly believes that this will help him feel safer when purchasing products online and hopes that this law will be a first step in making the country’s e-market industry more innovative and competitive.
“I believe that security will be increased in my online purchases; as a shopper, it is convenient for me to buy online, but in exchange for that convenience, there is no guarantee that my money and the things I intend to purchase here are secured," he said.
He added: “May this be a positive step towards the development and progress of our e-market, and may this law be fair to consumers and small company owners.”
Mariano-Hernandez hopes that the law will address the problem of online scams, thus motivating more Filipinos to start their own businesses and make use of internet purchases to further boost the country’s economy.
“With the passage of this new law, we hope to inspire a great number of our citizens to establish business and purchase goods online in order to stimulate the economy,” she said. (AM/PIA-4A; with reports from Cong. Ruth Mariano Hernandez)
