Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) undersecretary Ruth Castelo told a Senate hearing that the agency has no means to protect consumers from online sellers who cannot be located or do not provide any physical address.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that business name registration of online businesses boomed from 1,753 in January-March 15 this year -- or before the declaration of the community quarantine -- to 75,876 as of September 2.
Data from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority showed that from January to July 2020, registered investments from the BPO sector grew 37 percent to P11.4 billion amid the global health crisis.
Complaints related to online businesses also surged in the past months, with complaints filed with the DTI in the first eight months of the year reaching 12,630.
Under the proposed law, the DTI shall have regulatory powers to take down or issue cease-and-desist orders against websites selling illegal or dangerous products or services.
Policies requiring government offices to buy electric vehicles are being eyed to jumpstart the local e-vehicle (EV) industry, according to DTI undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba.
Landbank will be working with Department of Trade and Industry-Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, the Bureau of the Treasury, and PayMaya to ensure the efficient settlement of online payments made by clients and timely remittance of payments to the National Treasury.
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority also launched its online job fair to link Filipinos, especially displaced OFWs, to PEZA-registered companies located in over 400 economic zones nationwide.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be proposing to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) the opening of Internet cafés in areas under general community quarantine.
