Gatchalian to online platforms: Take a hard line stance vs. merchants' deceptive, prohibited practices

Senator Win Gatchalian said that reports on consumer products with hazardous chemicals that continue to flood online platforms should set off alarm bells to concerned authorities.

The senator said online platforms should be more aggressive in going after deceptive, prohibited, and unconscionable sales and practices.

EcoWaste Coalition claimed that mercury-laden products are being sold illegally by third-party dealers in e-commerce marketplaces and had notified lead regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) on their recent discovery.

The group found out that mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers are being offered for sale by online dealers. Mercury thermometers are used to measure body temperature while sphygmomanometers are used to measure blood pressure and liquid mercury in flask containers.

The government phased out mercury-containing medical devices in September 2010 following an administrative order issued by the Department of Health (DOH).

"We have to accept the reality that online shopping is the new normal. And while online transactions continue to thrive along with the proliferation of unscrupulous sellers, we cannot just sit back and wait until a proper mechanism is in place," Gatchalian, principal author of the proposed Internet Transactions Act, said.

The Internet Transactions Act (Senate Bill No. 1591), which seeks to make online transactions more consumer friendly and strengthen the country's digital economy, also proposed strict regulations to protect consumers from unethical and unscrupulous business practices on the internet.

Under SBN 1591, e-commerce platforms shall share solidary liability with an online merchant. Covered in this provision are instances when the online platform fails to ascertain that the products pose risks to the life and health of consumers and if the online merchant is not duly registered with the appropriate regulatory agencies.

"These online marketplaces should not only be responsible but also conscientious on what they are offering to the public," said Gatchalian, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs.

During the last Senate hearing on SBN 1591, Gatchalian raised concerns on the online consumers' exposure to counterfeit items as the internet has broadened accessibility to a wide range of products and services, including prohibited items.

"We should not allow these e-commerce marketplaces to rake in profits from illegal business practices. Consumers should be mindful of the quality of the items that they purchase online and they need to be assured that the products being offered to them are not harmful, " Gatchalian concluded.

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Gatchalian inudyok ang online platforms na maging agresibo laban sa mga mapanlinlang na negosyante

Nagbabala si Senador Win Gatchalian laban sa mga mga produktong nabibili sa online na mayroong mapanganib na kemikal.

Kamakailan lang kasi ay nadiskubre ng grupong EcoWaste Coalition na hayagang nag-aalok sa online ang ilang third party dealers ng mercury thermometers at sphygmomanometers na pawang may mapanganib na kemikal kaya agad nilang ipinagbigay alam sa Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) na nasa ilalim ng Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR).

Ang mercury thermometers ay ginagamit sa pagkuha ng temperatura ng tao habang ang sphygmomanometers ay ginagamit naman sa pagkuha ng blood pressure.

Simula noong Setyembre ng 2010 ay tinaggal na sa merkado ang mga medical device na may mercury kasunod ng isang administrative order galing sa Department of Health (DOH).

"Bahagi na ng buhay natin ngayon ang online shopping. At habang patuloy na lumalago ang mga ganitong klaseng transaksyon ay naglipana naman ang mga mapaglinlang na online sellers. Hindi tama na hayaan na lang natin silang makapanloko dahil sa kawalan ng mekanismo para mapanagot sila sa iligal na gawain, " ayon kay Gatchalian, na siyang pangunahing may-akda ng panukalang batas na Internet Transactions Act.

Ang Internet Transactions Act o Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1591 ay naglalayong gawing mas madali ang online transactions sa bansa at pausbungin ang tinatawag na digital economy. Ayon pa sa naturang panukala, kailangang higpitan pa ang regulasyon para mapangalagaan ang interes ng mga mamimili laban sa mga iligal na pamamaraan ng pagnenegosyo sa online.

Sabi pa ni Gatchalian, may probisyon din sa SBN 1591, na papanagutin ang dalawang panig - ang online platform at online merchant o seller na nagsu-suplay ng produkto sa online platform - sakaling ang nabentang produkto ay inireklamo lalo na kung ito'y nakakasama sa kalusugan ng mamimili at hindi rehistrado sa gobyerno.

"Hindi natin dapat hinahayaan sa mga e-commerce marketplaces ang mga ilegal na gawain at mga transaksyon ng ilan na ang habol lamang ay kumita nang malaki kahit na alam nilang hindi sila naging matapat sa mga mamimili. Sa bahagi naman ng mga mamimili, alamin ang karapatan sa pamimili sa online at maging mapanuri para hindi maloko," sabi ni Gatchalian.