DTI eyes completion of ITA IRR by March 19

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is hoping to complete the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) by March 19, according to an official of the agency.

“We are really hoping that we will be able to finish it on time,” Trade Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco told reporters, referring to the IRR deadline, which falls 90 days after the effectivity of the law.

RA 11967 or An Act Protecting Consumers and Merchants Engaged in Internet Transactions, creating for this purpose the Electronic Commerce Bureau, otherwise known as the ITA, was signed by President Marcos in December last year.

The ITA mandates the DTI through the e-commerce bureau to create an online business database that will provide government and consumers access to information of businesses selling online.

The e-commerce bureau shall also encourage the establishment of an ecommerce trust mark in close collaboration with the private sector and maintain a government-wide online consumer complaint tracking system that will be actively monitored by the DTI.

“RA 11967 also sets the regulatory jurisdiction of the Trade and Industry Department over internet transactions and provides it with powers and authority to issue compliance orders against violators, subpoena, the take down order of websites, including the blacklisting of online businesses,” the DTI said earlier.

It added that liabilities of online merchants, e-retailers, e-marketplaces and digital platforms were also set, including penalties for violators.

Pacheco expressed confidence that online marketplace platforms would comply with the new law.

“We are really confident that the marketplace platforms will comply. They will comply because this is indicated in the law. Because in the law, remember it’s about building trust,” Pacheco said.