PHILIPPINE consumer groups are calling for public consultations and dialogues with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) over the department’s initiatives to review and amend the Philippine Consumers Act (RA 7394).
The DTI’s move to review and amend the present consumers’ protection law is a response to adapt to the rising and growing e-commerce in the country.
Consumers often suffer from inaccurate product information, problems on payment security, and unfair contract terms with merchandisers on digital transaction.
Consumers demands for mechanisms to address these problems and to ensure protection from unscrupulous merchants online.
The Liga Manggagawa a workers’ consumers group also wanted to include a swift online dispute resolution by the DTI on consumers’ e-commerce issues.
A recent study conducted by a team composed of the ASEAN secretariat and a German agency for international cooperation, recommended to the country to undergo a review of our consumer protection system in the context of the rising digital transactions which is the current reality in the regional market.
Recommendations for review and amendments cover regulations on digital transactions on different online platforms, responsibility of digital platforms, product inspection and warranty as well as jurisdiction on cross-border transactions involving sellers and or suppliers.
The need to increase product testing facilities outside major cities was also recommended.
The country has only but a few product testing facilities and those that at the National Capital Region are the most reliable.
The study team recommended to the DTI to increase manpower, training and funding for the agency which can be used to enhance consumer awareness and education.
DTI should enhance its adjudicatory role on consumer dispute resolution and to allow award damages subject to court review.