HB 7805 To Pass Plenary Approval In Lower House, Says Valenzuela City Rep. Gatchalian

HB 7805 would pass plenary approval in the Lower House soon, according to Valenzuela City Rep. Gatchalian

The Internet Transactions Act or House Bill (HB) 7805 would pass plenary approval in the Lower House soon, according to Valenzuela City Representative Wesley Gatchalian.

This, as the said bill sought to guarantee fairness and honesty and put an end to fraudulent transactions in the sale of goods and services in the internet.

HB 7805
Photo: Manila Bulletin

During a recent meeting with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and other Senate leaders, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco assured that the said bill was a priority measure to be acted upon by the House of Representatives when the regular session continued on Monday.

The principal authors of the said bill were House Committee on Trade and Industry chairman Valenzuela City Rep. Wesley Gatchalian and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin.

In addition, the said bill proposed strict compliance to a Code of Conduct among all businesses involved in electronic commerce (eCommerce) aside from the creation of an e-Commerce Bureau.

Among the principles specified in the e-Commerce Code of Conduct was the guarantee for equal application of rights of consumers and their treatment with integrity, honesty, and fairness at all times.

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The eCommerce Bureau (eCB) should be an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the proposed bureau was mandated to impose, monitor, and ensure compliance to House Bill 7805, among other duties and responsibilities.

In addition, the said bureau would also have the power to investigate and file appropriate cases against violators and should receive and address consumer complaints on internet transactions.

According to Gatchalian, the eCommerce Bureau should have the power to issue summons, subpoena duces tecum, and subpoena ad testificandum to alleged violators or witnesses to compel their attendance during formal investigation and proceedings on a complaint.

The said bill also defined the right to redress by online merchants.

Garbin said he would proposed amendments that would amply protect ride haling service providers and online merchants who were at times being victimized by fake transactions and bogus buyers.

Under the said bill, ride hailing providers were also mandated to treat customers honestly fairly.

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