Online buyers will now be protected vs erring traders

Online consumers will now be protected against unscrupulous traders after three government agencies issued a joint administrative order which protects purchases through electronic means.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) issued JDAO 01 which prescribes the “rules and regulations for consumer protection in a transaction covered by the Consumer Act of the Philippines (R.A. 7394) through electronic means under the E-Commerce Act (R.A. 8792).”

The JDAO will take effect on Nov. 13. Copies of the JDAO has been published in The Star yesterday.

The order will protect consumers doing online transactions, specifically on the purchase of products and services pursuant to the consumer act of the Philippines. 

It covers all local and foreign based retailers and sellers engaged in electronic commerce with consumers.

Likewise, it adopts the provisions of the consumer act on fair business practices and the prohibition from engaging in false, deceptive and misleading advertisements.

Under the JDAO, sellers are required to post an online disclosure of accurate, clear and easily accessible information about the retailers or sellers, the products or services being offered, and the terms, conditions and costs of the consumer transaction.

Also under the guidelines, retailers/sellers are mandated to set up and make operational internal complaint-handling mechanism for consumer complaints, without prejudice to the rights of the consumers to seek legal redress. 

At the same time, the order provides procedure or structure to address/resolve a complaint filed before concerned implementing agencies.

Because it covers international transactions also, complaints of local residents against overseas firms may be filed with the Philippine trade/consular office/embassy or directly with the foreign government agency or regulator where the retailer or seller is located with the assistance of the counterpart Philippine government agency concerned.