Aside from brick and mortar stores, many entrepreneurs are now venturing into online businesses for global exposure and wider public reach. Unfortunately, not all online transactions are successful. This is why there are laws, rules and regulations that govern online businesses. These laws protect consumers and business owners to ensure a smooth and problem-free transaction.
1. Republic Act No. 8792 or Electronic Commerce Act of 2000
This Act aims to facilitate domestic and international dealings, transactions, arrangements agreements, contracts and exchanges and storage of information through the utilization of electronic, optical and similar medium, mode, instrumentality and technology to recognize the authenticity and reliability of electronic documents related to such activities and to promote the universal use of electronic transaction in the government and general public.
2. Executive No. 810, s.2009 Institutionalizing The Certification Scheme For Digital Signatures And Directing The Application Of Digital Signatures In E-Government Services
The Rules on Electronic Evidence issued by the Supreme Court in 2001 in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic Commerce Act, defines digital signature as “an electronic signature consisting of a transformation of an electronic document or an electronic data message using an asymmetric or public cryptosystem such that a person having the initial untransformed electronic document and the signer’s public key can accurately determine: (i) whether the transformation was created using the private key that corresponds to the signer’s public key; and (ii) whether the initial electronic document had been altered after the transformation was made.
3. Executive Order No. 482, s.2005 or Creating The National Single Window Task Force For Cargo Clearance
SEC. 4. Functions of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall be responsible for the following:
a. Setting of policy guidelines for the creation and operation of the NSW and the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) thereafter;
b. Crafting of financial schemes and strategies to finance the activities and projects under the NSW from its inception up to its operations to ensure sustainability; and
c. Ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of the NSW and ASW thereafter.
4. Executive Order No. 334, s. 2004 or Abolishing The Information Technology And Electronic Commerce Council And Transferring Its Budget, Assets, Personnel, Programs And Projects To The Commission on Information And Communications Technology
The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), created pursuant to Executive Order No. 269 dated 12 January 2004, functions as the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, regulating, and administrative entity for ICT of the Executive Branch of the Government;
It is desirable to centralize all ICT and ICT-related programs and projects, functions and initiatives in one government agency;
The government recognizes that the development of ICT will have a higher chance of success and sustainability if it is private sector-led, market-based and government-enabled; and
There is a need for close coordination between the government and the private sector for the promotion and continued growth and development of ICT in the country.
5. Republic Act No. 9184 or The Government Procurement Reform Act
This 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations, hereinafter called the IRR, is promulgated pursuant to Section 75 of Republic Act No. (R.A.) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act,” for the purpose of prescribing the necessary rules and regulations for the modernization, standardization, and regulation of the procurement activities of the Government of the Philippines (GoP).
