By Jenina P. Ibañez, October 28 2019; Business World

https://www.bworldonline.com/trade-dept-drafting-e-commerce-regulations-for-2022-road-map/

Image Credit to Reuters

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it concluded a technical assistance agreement with the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center, which will help put together its e-commerce industry plan.

The law center’s input on regulating the industry forms part of the DTI’s drafting of the Philippine e-commerce road map to 2022.

DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba and UP Law Dean Fides Cordero-Tan signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the partnership on e-commerce policy, DTI said in a statement Monday.

Under this partnership, the UP Law Center will provide the DTI’s e-Commerce Program Office with scholarly and technical assistance in reviewing the Philippine e-commerce Roadmap 2016-2020 and in drafting the new road map.

DTI is currently consulting on the plan with digital platforms, financial technology companies, and logistics service providers.

The agency also held sessions with e-commerce stakeholders “to identify issues and concerns as well as recommendations in formulating the e-Commerce Philippines 2022 roadmap.”

The UP Law Center will assist the DTI in drafting regulation and implementing e-commerce policy.

The center will also work on the enhancement of DTI’s consumer and merchant protection policy, including the integration of e-Commerce-specific regulation and online dispute mechanisms.

The DTI in August announced more aggressive e-commerce targets, saying that the sector is now expected to account for 40-50% of gross domestic product by 2022. The previous estimate, contained in the older road map, was 25% of the economy by 2020. — Jenina P. Ibañez