Pascual expects exciting commerce with new roadmap

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual expressed confidence in potential doors that will be opened with the new 2024-2028 E-commerce Roadmap, stating that it represents a shift from "easy commerce to exciting commerce" for Filipino products and services.

Pascual said this in a statement released by DTI on April 11, recalling the meeting of the E-commerce Promotion Council (EPC) convened on April 8. The EPC comprises public and private e-commerce sector actors and e-commerce ecosystem stakeholders such as representatives of digital platforms and payments, emarketplaces, and telecommunication firms.

“Our goal is to strengthen the trust between buyers and sellers. By achieving this, we can foster a more complex economic landscape, enhancing connections and establishing stronger relationships,” said Pascual.

The new 2024-2028 includes 13 strategies and 28 deliverables aimed at "expanding the international presence of Philippine products" and "building trust between online customers and sellers," along with prioritizing growth in the tourism, creative, food and agribusiness, transportation, and logistics industries, according to the DTI.

It builds upon the past roadmaps by focusing on inclusivity and innovation, particularly in creating programs catering to the youth, women, persons with disabilities (PWDS), and senior citizens.

Just a few years back, the Ecommerce 2022 Roadmap was launched by the DTI, containing 20 strategies and 22 agendas to empower online consumers, integrate businesses in ecommerce platforms, promote cashless transactions, and fasttrack digital transformation.

During the meeting, Pascual stressed the critical role of the EPC in actively "shaping the future of e-commerce in the country by addressing current challenges."

“As council members, we play a pivotal role in shaping the regulatory landscape of ecommerce in the Philippines, ensuring the integrity and sustainability of our e-commerce processes," he added.

To support the new roadmap, the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) of 2023 or Republic Act No. 11967 was enacted, which aims to establish a regulatory policy for commercial transactions conducted online or via electronic means.

According to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the ITA seeks to "define the scope and coverage of internet transactions, apart from the sale or exchange of digital products, and lay down the code of conduct and qualifications for businesses who wish to engage in e-commerce."