
On its second reading, the House of Representatives passed a bill to set up an Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) Bureau. The bureau will regulate business activities on the internet and protect people who buy things online.
Under the bill, the E-Commerce Bureau will be the central place where consumer complaints about online transactions will be take and dealt with.
The bill also specifies that the proposed agency must establish an online dispute settlement mechanism. This platform will serve as their single point of contact for online retailers and customers who want to resolve their disputes out of court.
Also, the bureau has to set up, run, and keep up a Registry of Online Business. This will give Filipinos facts and information on registered internet business firms so they may check their authenticity, presence, and other relevant information.
A code of conduct for e-commerce businesses is also include in the bill. This code tells them what they need to do and what they need to avoid doing.
The measure also specifies that online platforms are “solidarily accountable” to a customer in the same manner that an online seller is, but only up to the number of civil damages caused by a transaction to the consumer.
It also says that online platforms have a civil and administrative indemnity liability with merchants only in the following cases:
In the following situations, online platforms won’t be held responsible: relying on an online merchant’s representations, warranties, or registration documents, even if they turn out to be false, as long as the online operator can show evidence of good faith; and relying on an online merchant’s representations, warranties, or submissions that it is legal under the laws of the Philippines or conforms to applicable laws.
“Promote and maintain” a robust e-commerce environment in the Philippines and build trust between online sellers and buyers through reliable and secure e-commerce platforms. This is with “appropriate transparency and utmost efficiency to encourage the creation of new products, services, business models, and processes,” according to the committee report.
It will also establish effective laws for online transactions to protect consumer rights and data privacy, foster innovation, and fair advertising practices promote competition, keep online transactions safe, and respect property rights.
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