Lawmaker Seeks to Create E-Commerce Bureau

A lawmaker has filed a bill creating a Bureau of E-Commerce that would address and harness the rapidly evolving activities of the e-commerce industry.

Congressman Wes Gatchalian of Alay Buhay party-list has filed House Bill 3878, a bill that creates the E-Commerce Bureau, which also seeks to promote the country as an attractive destination for e-commerce.

The proposed E-Commerce Bureau is tasked to promote and maintain fair and efficient market conduct and effective competition between persons engaged in commercial activities connected with e-commerce and shall focus and work full time on e-commerce development, international competitiveness and continuing research.

The measure also aims to promote the universal use of electronic transaction in the government and general public.

Under the bill, the bureau is mandated to foster the development and expansion of information and communications services in the world in collaboration with other countries and international organizations. It also gives technical aid to all prosecuting and law-enforcement officers and entities of the government, as well as the court that may request its services.

The measure directs the E-Commerce Bureau to conduct technical audit and establish a strong and effective regulatory system on online transaction and e-commerce, and monitor and evaluate the implementation of e-commerce policies, plans and programs.

It shall be headed by a director to be appointed by the President and shall be attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The lawmaker said the bureau would also maintain statistical data, investigate administrative complaints against or by stakeholders, monitor and evaluate the e-commerce policies and programs.

Gatchalian said Congress enacted into law Republic Act (RA) 8792, otherwise known as the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, to facilitate domestic and international dealings, transactions through the use of electronic, optical and other similar mediums.

He said that RA 8792 has recognized the role of information and communication technology in commercial trade and in nation building.

He added that the E-Commerce Office of the Department of Trade and Industry was created with the aim of directly supervising the promotion and development of electronic commerce in the country.

Moreover, Gatchalian said the E-Commerce Bureau will be a high-level office compared to the E-Commerce Office of the DTI and shall be the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing and regulating office to promote e-commerce industry in the country.

He cited Nielsen survey revealed that the Philippines has at least 33.6 million Internet users, representing roughly 30 percent of the country’s population who are engaged or have the potential to be engaged with online trading.

He added the e-commerce and Internet sectors have evolved rapidly and the government should take active interest and harness the opportunities offered by these emerging technologies.

Source: Business Mirror