Environmental and health watchdog EcoWaste Coalition has expressed strong support for the enforcement of Republic Act (RA) 11967, also known as the Internet Transactions Act. The organization believes that this long-awaited measure will significantly reduce the rampant online sale of unsafe and toxic products.
“Having monitored the uninhibited sale of many prohibited goods online, we see the law’s implementation like a beaming light at the end of the tunnel,” said EcoWaste Coalition National Coordinator Aileen Lucero in a news release on Thursday.
Grip Bueta, legal counsel for EcoWaste, emphasized that the law must remain dynamic and adapt to the evolving digital landscape. “As the digital e-commerce space continues to grow and as more sellers and consumers transact online, efforts to protect the people’s right to a clean and healthy environment—through ensuring safe, non-toxic, and non-hazardous products—must also be enhanced in the internet of things. RA 11967’s full effectivity is thus a welcome development,” he added.
Enacted by the 19th Congress in 2023, the law officially took effect on June 20, following an 18-month transition period that allowed digital platforms, e-commerce merchants, and other stakeholders time to comply with the new regulations.
EcoWaste also highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in enforcing the law. Under RA 11967, the E-Commerce Bureau (ECB) will oversee enforcement and coordinate with other regulatory agencies. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary is empowered to issue summons and subpoenas to alleged violators or witnesses, compelling attendance and document production during investigations.
Additionally, the DTI can issue compliance orders in accordance with RA 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and has the authority to issue takedown orders against unlawful online listings, holding platforms jointly liable for failing to address violations.
EcoWaste Coalition has been actively monitoring and tracking dangerous products sold online, including skin lightening products containing mercury, lead-laden paints, and other consumer goods that do not comply with regulatory standards.