The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended the registration period for online businesses under the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark system until December 31, 2025, moving the original deadline from September 30.
Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said the three-month extension underscores the agency’s effort to balance business welfare with consumer protection.
“The Trustmark is not meant to burden businesses but to shield legitimate enterprises from scammers who undermine consumer confidence,” Roque said. “We want to make it easier for consumers to identify and trust genuine sellers, so entrepreneurs can focus on what truly matters—growing their business.”
Fee waivers for small businesses
To support micro and small enterprises, the DTI reiterated that Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs)—or those with total assets of P3 million or less—are fully exempt from the P1,000 Trustmark registration fee.
Small businesses with total assets of P15 million or less will only pay half the fee, and will shoulder only a P100 web administration fee and P30 documentary stamp tax for their certificate. DTI said further implementing details will be issued separately.
Ensuring legitimate online commerce
According to the DTI’s E-Commerce Bureau (ECB), mandatory Trustmark registration will help establish the legitimacy of businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), through an Online Business Database. This will allow consumers to verify that they are transacting with trustworthy, accountable sellers verified by the DTI.
To encourage early compliance, Roque directed the ECB to craft incentives for businesses that register on or before the original September 30 deadline, and to explore extending the Trustmark’s one-year validity.
Legal basis and compliance requirements
The registration requirement stems from Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 25-12, issued on September 4, 2025, pursuant to Republic Act No. 119607 or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023. The law empowers the DTI to:
- Require digital platforms and online merchants to register with the ECB, and
- Exercise regulatory jurisdiction over internet-based commercial activities.
Registered entities must provide accurate business information, submit required permits and licenses, and maintain a clear internal redress mechanism for addressing consumer complaints, among other obligations.
Rising online consumer complaints
From January to August 2025, the DTI received more than 13,000 complaints related to online transactions, underscoring the urgency of implementing the Trustmark system to improve accountability and consumer confidence in e-commerce.
For inquiries about the mandatory registration, the public may contact the ECB via email at trustmark@dti.gov.ph or by phone at (+632) 7791-3282.