Pagprotekta sa online sellers, consumers sa tulong ng Internet Transactions Act | Newsroom Ngayon
Mas mapoprotektahan na ang mga nagbebenta at namimili online sa pamamagitan ng Internet Transactions Act of 2023, ayon sa Department of Trade and Industry.
Makakapanayam natin si DTI Usec. Mary Jean Pacheco tungkol dito.
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Makakapanayam natin si DTI Usec. Mary Jean Pacheco tungkol dito.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:07 In 2022, almost half of the complaints received by the Trade Department from consumers
00:14 are related to online transactions.
00:17 The Internet Transactions Act was passed.
00:20 What should and should not be done by buyers and sellers of online transactions?
00:26 We have with us today, DTI Undersecretary, Digital Philippines and E-commerce Lead, Mary Jean Pacheco.
00:33 You can also join us and post your questions or comments on our Facebook Live.
00:38 Good afternoon, Yusef Pacheco.
00:40 Good afternoon. Thank you for having us.
00:43 Ma'am, let's start with what I mentioned earlier.
00:46 This is still in 2022 data, and almost half of the complaints are related to online transactions.
00:52 What is the situation now, based on your monitoring?
00:56 It's true, almost half of the complaints received by the Trade Department are related to online transactions.
01:09 The statistics that really rose during the pandemic,
01:17 during the pandemic, when we all went online,
01:21 we really saw 15,000 complaints, but now we have 12,000 complaints relative to online complaints.
01:30 What I remember before, the number of complaints was always high, like deceptive, and other types.
01:37 Correct. So those are our usual complaints, the deceptive ones.
01:42 These are the types of orders that you thought were this big, but they were actually this small.
01:47 You said clothes, but when you arrived, it was just a lining of clothes.
01:52 Those are the deceptive ones, usually received by our DTI complainants.
02:00 You're saying that it's below 12,000.
02:04 Yes, 12,000.
02:05 What is that? Is that data as of 2023?
02:07 That's correct. This is the data as of 2023.
02:10 We have 12,000 complaints received by the Department of Trade relative to complaints on online transactions.
02:17 But the good thing here is that we have a new law that is more focused on online platforms.
02:26 Can you give us a gist of what the new Internet Transactions Act is?
02:31 Yes, Ms. Ruth. We're very happy because on December 5, our President passed what we call the Internet Transactions Act, or RA-11967.
02:43 Its long title is an act protecting online consumers and merchants engaged in Internet transactions,
02:53 creating for this purpose the E-Commerce Bureau.
02:55 According to the law, this law identifies the regulatory framework for online sellers and online buyers.
03:08 The law is very good because, as I said, my favorite part of this law is that it identifies the players of our E-Commerce.
03:20 Because when we say E-Commerce, we only know Lazada and Shopee, but not that.
03:27 Yes, yes.
03:27 So our E-Commerce is the digital platform, but it's different.
03:33 So in this law, there's an e-marketplace.
03:35 Yes, ma'am. Because sometimes, for example, if you have a complaint, you don't know who will answer it.
03:40 Did you buy the platform yourself?
03:43 So can you explain what the differences are in these, according to the law?
03:47 So in this law, the liability became clear.
03:50 That's one of the things that's clear here.
03:53 This law says that it's the primary liability.
03:56 Because if you buy, you buy from the merchant.
04:01 Who is the merchant?
04:02 This is the one who sells inside the platform, right?
04:06 Sometimes you go to Lazada, Shopee, Facebook, TikTok, right?
04:11 So you're really talking to the one who posts.
04:16 So this can be a small or a big store?
04:18 Yes, yes. A small or a big store.
04:20 You're selling online, so you're called an online merchant.
04:24 Okay.
04:24 Now, if you're a big one, for example, a big store, SM.
04:29 Or branded.
04:30 Yes, you have your own website.
04:32 You're also included here, and you're an e-retailer.
04:35 And the platforms I mentioned earlier are also included.
04:39 So at least it's clear who should be there.
04:41 For example, if I don't want to answer the seller,
04:43 sometimes I'll message the platform.
04:46 So at least it's clear who should be the first to answer.
04:50 Right.
04:51 Yes, yes. That's also very clear.
04:53 Because if you're the one who has a complaint,
04:56 the first thing you can complain about
04:59 is that you have a redress mechanism.
05:01 You're talking to the merchant, right?
05:03 That's why we usually say that it's good to buy from a digital platform.
05:08 Like Lazada, Shopee, and others.
05:11 Because they have a redress mechanism.
05:14 So if you buy from them and you have something that you don't like,
05:18 you should complain to them first.
05:19 Under the law, if you're not convinced,
05:23 if you're not being noticed,
05:26 you can go to the Department of Trade.
05:28 Okay.
05:29 And what other examples,
05:31 particularly, are the violations outlined here?
05:35 And of course, the penalties.
05:37 That's correct.
05:38 So first, the beauty of this law is the importance of information.
05:45 So, in the Department of Trade,
05:48 it's sometimes sad that a consumer will complain,
05:55 and we'll look for them, but we won't be able to find them.
05:58 Why? Because there's no address.
05:59 Suddenly, it's gone.
06:00 Yes.
06:01 So here in the law, it's really clear
06:04 that platforms require merchants to go to their site
06:10 to know their information,
06:13 their business name,
06:15 who owns them, what's their telephone number.
06:17 Can they sell their products?
06:19 Can they have a license?
06:22 Because we sell a lot of things.
06:23 Do you know that chainsaws are prohibited?
06:25 Chainsaws are prohibited.
06:27 There are things that are prohibited.
06:28 Yes.
06:29 Even medicines.
06:30 Yes, medicines.
06:31 There are things you shouldn't sell.
06:33 Of course, fake products are prohibited.
06:35 So now, our platforms need to have a responsibility
06:38 to say, "Here, this has a license."
06:41 It's a crime.
06:42 It's a crime.
06:43 Now, you're a merchant,
06:44 you should know that as a merchant,
06:47 you shouldn't sell things that you're not licensed with.
06:50 Okay.
06:50 Later, we'll continue our discussion.
06:52 We'll take a break.
06:53 We'll be with DTI Undersecretary Berry Jean Pacheco
06:57 in the newsroom.
06:59 Here in CNN Philippines.
07:01 [music]
07:03 Let's go back to our service.
07:05 Today, we're still with DTI Undersecretary Digital Philippines
07:08 and e-commerce lead, Mary Jean Pacheco.
07:10 We're talking about this new law,
07:12 Internet Transaction Act,
07:14 which was just passed by the law last month.
07:18 The usual problem,
07:21 or sometimes our fellow citizens think,
07:23 "Why are they complaining?
07:24 The process is so long.
07:25 It's a hassle."
07:26 What are they saying in the law
07:28 that this mechanism can be eased?
07:32 That's our aspiration, Ms. Ruth,
07:34 because we really want this law to build trust.
07:38 We want more Filipinos to sell online
07:42 and more to buy online.
07:44 And what this means is that you really build trust,
07:47 confidence.
07:48 So we're calling,
07:48 even if, for example,
07:50 you bought something for P100 or P300,
07:53 if you feel that you were caught,
07:56 you should call the Department of Trade.
07:59 Because of the Internet Transactions Act,
08:01 it will hopefully be easier,
08:05 because there are rules and powers
08:08 that are being given to the Department of Trade.
08:11 That's why we believe that
08:13 the passing of the Internet Transactions Act
08:17 will help consumers.
08:20 The law also says that there will be an online database.
08:25 What does this mean?
08:26 So at least you can check, right?
08:28 Correct.
08:29 Usually, when we buy,
08:32 we read it before we buy.
08:34 So if you're looking at something
08:36 and you want to buy,
08:38 before you buy what you want to buy,
08:40 you can check the online business database
08:44 that the Department of Trade will do.
08:46 So we will help all platforms,
08:50 all e-retailers,
08:52 all online merchants
08:54 to have a database
08:57 that can be viewed by buyers,
09:03 government agencies,
09:06 and digital platforms.
09:09 It's good to have a database in the mind of the law
09:12 because the information
09:14 will give buyers confidence
09:18 that this is legitimate.
09:19 "I know this.
09:20 This is here.
09:22 This has an address here.
09:23 So I know that this merchant
09:25 is a legitimate merchant."
09:29 What does this mean?
09:30 Do you need to register
09:31 or do you get it from BIR
09:33 or from your own registry?
09:34 We have something.
09:36 We just wait.
09:36 We're just waiting for the implementing rules
09:38 and regulations.
09:40 But we're already seeing
09:44 how to formulate.
09:45 There are many merchants
09:47 in digital platforms.
09:49 So we need the help
09:51 of digital platforms.
09:53 We also have lists.
09:56 We have lists in the Department of Trade.
09:59 We will fill all these lists
10:03 because, you know,
10:04 in DTI, when you start your business,
10:09 the first thing you'll look for
10:11 is your business name registration.
10:13 So we have a list.
10:15 So all the registrations,
10:17 as you said, BIR,
10:19 we will all work together
10:21 and coordinate with digital platforms
10:25 so we can populate our database.
10:29 Yousef, what you were saying earlier
10:31 that we have a database
10:33 and then I asked about possible violations
10:36 or what can be reported.
10:37 Former trade officials
10:40 I interviewed always say
10:40 that consumers have the same rights
10:43 in the malls,
10:44 the physical malls you go to,
10:46 and online.
10:47 So this law, does it make it more specific?
10:50 Yes. So we have to have equal treatment.
10:53 Usually, they say,
10:54 "Oh, if you're online,
10:56 your law is different."
10:58 Because you don't measure,
10:59 for example, your clothes or something like that.
11:01 So what we're saying is
11:03 the laws that apply to offline business
11:08 are also the laws
11:09 that apply to online business.
11:11 So equal application.
11:13 What we're clarifying here
11:16 is that because the business model is online,
11:18 the Internet Transactions Act
11:21 identifies the parameters,
11:24 the criteria.
11:25 That's the difference.
11:26 Because it's online.
11:27 For example, your cart.
11:30 If you have a cart in a...
11:34 But here, you also have a right.
11:35 The details should be complete.
11:36 Your details should be complete.
11:37 Not because you're selling online,
11:39 you don't need a permit
11:41 to register, a license.
11:43 That's not allowed.
11:44 If you're asking for a license
11:47 for offline or brick and mortar,
11:48 it's the same.
11:49 You need to have your own registration,
11:52 licenses,
11:53 if you're selling online.
11:55 Lastly, is the E-Commerce Bureau
11:57 particular to this law?
12:00 And what is this?
12:01 I'll just contact you directly.
12:02 Just in case you have a complaint,
12:03 you can contact me anywhere.
12:04 That's right.
12:05 So this law,
12:06 the biggest component of the law,
12:08 is the creation of our E-Commerce Bureau
12:11 under the Department of Trade.
12:12 So, this law was given
12:15 a lot of powers
12:18 by the Department of Trade Secretary.
12:20 So, the E-Commerce Bureau
12:22 is like a funnel.
12:24 So, everything here,
12:26 once we have created the IRR,
12:29 we have created our beautiful tools,
12:32 the Business Database,
12:34 the Taskmark, the ODRS.
12:36 The E-Commerce Bureau of DTI
12:38 will receive it,
12:40 but it's not just DTI.
12:42 We have a lot of partners,
12:44 agencies of government
12:46 that will really help us.
12:48 That's the beauty of
12:50 Internet Transactions.
12:51 Okay. Let's wait for the IRR.
12:53 That's our next interview.
12:54 Thank you very much to DTI Undersecretary,
12:56 Digital Philippines,
12:58 and E-Commerce Lead, Mary Jean Pacheco.