Manila: An official of a group of online sellers on Monday said registration to the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark would benefit micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) once policies are clarified.

According to Philippines News Agency, Anna Magkawas, convenor of Online Negosyo Empowerment Community (ONEC), mentioned during a press briefing that they met with officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last week to address some issues regarding the voluntary registration to the Trustmark among online sellers until the end of 2025.

She expressed support for this measure but deemed the registration redundant to existing consumer laws and product standards since the documentary requirements are the same as those submitted to other government offices.

Magkawas stated, ‘With Trustmark voluntary [registration] only until December 31, the group urges that it be declared permanently voluntary, not required by platforms, aspirational, and private-sector-led, with government focusing instead on enforcing existing laws.’

She appreciated that DTI officials accepted their suggestions and considered their position on the issue, expressing hope that the meeting will yield positive results.

However, she pointed out the need to first address online selling scams, which the Trustmark, she said, is not expected to address effectively since scammers submit the same requirements as legitimate sellers.

‘Online Negosyo remains committed to constructive dialogue with platforms, policymakers, and the E-Commerce Promotions Council to help build a fair, transparent, and corruption-free digital economy,’ she added.