Related Laws and Policies

Laws and Policies

E-COMMERCE & BUSINESS REGULATIONS

No.TitleDate of Issuance
Republic Act No. 8293Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines – An Act Prescribing the Intellectual Property Code and Establishing the Intellectual Property Office, Providing for its Powers and Functions, and For Other Purposes6 Jun 1997
Republic Act No. 8484Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998An act regulating the issuance and use of access devices, prohibiting fraudulent acts committed relative thereto, providing penalties and for other purposes.11 Feb 1998
Executive Order No. 262
Amending Executive Order No. 302 Series of 1996, entitled Providing Policies, Guidelines, Rules and Regulations for the Procurement of Goods/Supplies by the National Government and Executive Order No. 201, Series of 200005 Jul 2000
Executive Order No. 264Establishing the Information Technology and E-commerce Council (ITECC) from the Merger of the National Information Technology Council (NITC) and the Electronic Commerce Promotion Council (ECPC)12 Jul 2000
Executive Order No. 265Approving and Adopting the Government Information Systems Plan (GISP) as Framework and Guide for All Computerization Efforts in Government12 Jul 2000
 IRR – E-Commerce ActImplementing Rules and Regulations of the ECA13 Jul 2000
Republic Act No. 8792An Act Providing for the Recognition and Use of Electronic Commercial and Non-Commercial Transactions and Documents, Penalties for Unlawful Use Thereof and for Other Purposes” or the Electronic Commerce Act of 200014 Jun 2000
Executive Order No. 322Requiring All National Government Agencies, Instrumentalities and Government Owned and Controlled Corporations to Participate in the Electronic Procurement System22 Nov 2000
PEZA GuidelinesGuidelines for the Establishment and Operation  
of Information Technology (IT) Parks – D. REGISTRABLE ACTIVITIES – IT Parks shall serve as locations for the following PEZA registrable activities: 1. Software development for business, e-commerce, education and entertainment;
29 Dec 2000
Executive Order No. 18Amending Certain Portions of Executive Order No. 264, Series of 2000, Entitled ‘Establishing the Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Council (ITECC) from the Merger of the National Information Technology Council (NITC) and the Electronic Commerce Promotion Council (ECPC)25 May 2001
Republic Act No. 9178Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act of 2002 – An Act to Promote the Establishment of Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs), Providing Incentives and Benefits Therefor, and For Other Purposes13 Nov 2002
NCC Memorandum Circular No. 2003-01Guidelines on Creation Compliance to E-commerce Act (R.A. 8792) and Stage Two and Three of the UN-ASPA Five Stages of E-Government27 Dec 2005
Executive Order No. 482Creating the National Single Window Task Force for Cargo Clearance28 Sep 2001
Republic Act No. 10372An Act Amending certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 8293, Otherwise known as the “Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines”, and For Other Purposes28 Feb 2013
DBM-approval of DTI Rationalization Plan placing the e-commerce-related under the Sector Planning Bureau17 Oct 2013
Republic Act No. 11032Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 – An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Governmetn Services, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9485, Otherwise knowas as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, and for other purposes28 May 2018
DICT Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001Prescribing the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Section 14 of R.A. 11032 – For the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to establish, manage and maintain the Philippine Business Databank (PBD)11 Sep 2019
BSP Circular No. 1027Amendments to the Guidelines on the Computation of Required Capital 28 Dec 2018
BSP Circular No. 1033 Amendments to Regulations on Electronic Banking Services and Other Electronic Operations 22 Feb 2019
BSP Circular No. 1068 Extension of the Period for Registration/Notification of Operators of Payment Systems 26 Dec 2019
BIR RMC No. 57-2020 Streamlining of Business Registration Requirements and Revised Checklist of Documentary Requirements 12 Mar 2020
BIR RMC No. 60-2020 Obligations of Persons Conducting Business Transactions Through Any Forms of Electronic Media, and Notice to Unregistered Businesses 10 Jun 2020
DTI-DA-DOH-DENR-IPOPHL-NPC Joint Administrative Order No. 22-01Guidelines for Online Businesses Reiterating the Laws and Regulations Applicable to Online Businesses and Consumers4 Mar 2022

CONSUMER PROTECTION

No.TitleDate of Issuance
Republic Act No. 7394Consumer Act of the Philippines of 199113 Apr 1992
Executive Order No. 264Consumer Protection for Electronic Banking01 Sep 2006
NTC Memorandum Circular No. 05-06-2007Consumer Protection Guidelines08 Jun 2007
DTI-DOH-DA Joint Department Administrative Order No. 1Rules and Regulations for Consumer Protection in a Transaction Covered by the Consumer Act of the Philippines (R.A. 7394) through Electronic Means under the E-commerce Act (R.A. 8792)20 Oct 2008
DOJ Advisory Opinion  No. 02-2012Advisory on Plagiarism
“… if committed under certain circumstances, can amount to criminal violation of the Intellectual Property Code, the E-Commerce Act or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.”
02 Oct 2012
BSP Circular No. 857BSP Regulations on Financial Consumer Protection21 Nov 2014
Insurance Commission Circular Letter No. 2014-47Guidelines on Electronic Commerce of Insurance Products21 Nov 2014
DOJ Advisory Opinion  No. 02-2015Advisory on Online Shopping Fraud30 Apr 2015
Insurance Commission Circular Letter No. 2016-15Amendments to Guidelines on Electronic Commerce of Insurance Products15 Mar 2016
Insurance Commission Circular Letter No. 2016-60Amendments to Guidelines on Electronic Commerce of Insurance Products15 Nov 2016
NPC Advisory Opinion No. 2019-041Re: Credit Card Fraud Investigation23 Oct 2019
NPC Advisory Opinion No. 2019-021Re: Automated Retrieval of Bank Transaction History29 May 2020
DTI Department Administrative Order No. 20-05, s. 2020Development of a Philippine Online Dispute Resolution System (PODRS)29 Sept 2020

ELECTRONIC PAYMENT

No.TitleDate of Issuance
BSP Circular No. 240, Series of 2000BSP Circular on Electronic Banking Services – For this purpose, electronic banking shall refer to systems that enable bank customers to avail themselves of the bank’s products and services through a personal computer (using direct modem dial-in, internet access, or both) or a mobile/non-mobile phone.05 May 2000
BSP Circular No. 269New Guidelines on E-Banking Activities21 Dec 2000
Supreme Court Memorandum No. 01-7-01Rules on Electronic Evidence17 Jul 2001
DTI-DOST Joint Department Administrative Order No. 2Providing Implementing Rules and Regulations on Electronic Authentication and Electronic Signatures28 Sep 2001
Executive Order No. 40, s. 2001Consolidating Procurement Rules and Procedures for all Government Agencies, Government Owned or Controlled Corporations and Government Financial Institutions and Requiring the Use of the Government Electronic Procurement System08 Oct 2001
 IRRImplementing Rules and Regulations on Executive Order No. 4008 Feb 2002
NCC Memorandum Circular No. 2002-01Guidelines on Creation of the Agency’s Official Website and Compliance to E-commerce Law and Stage One of the UN-ASPA Stages of E-Government11 Jul 2002
Republic Act No. 9184Government Procurement Reform Act, “An Act Providing for the Modernization, Standardization and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government and For Other Purposes”10 Jan 2003
Executive Order No. 163 S.2003Modifying the Rates of Import Duty of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Products Under the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 (Presidential Decree No. 1464, as Amended), in Order to Implement the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement10 Jan 2003
DTI Department Administrative Order No. 01Prescribing Rules Governing the Voluntary Accreditation of Information Certifiers on Electronic Signatures24 Feb 2004
(Unpublished)
Executive Order No. 334, s. 2004Abolishing the Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Council and Transferring Its Budget, Assets, Personnel, Programs, and Projects to the Commission on Information and Communications Technology20 Jul 2004
DOF-DTI Joint Department Administrative Order No. 02Guidelines Implementing R.A. 8792 on Electronic Payment and Collection System (EPCS) in Government25 Oct 2006
DOF-DTI Joint Department Order No. 1Designation of Members of Government Electronic Payment and Collection System (GEPCSET) and Providing their Powers and Functions18 Jul 2007
UN ConventionThe Philippines signed the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (2005)25 Sep 2007
BSP Circular No. 649Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Electronic Money (E-Money) and the Operations of Electronic Money Issuers (EMI) in the Philippines09 Mar 2009
GPPB Resolution No. 03-2009Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Government Procurement Reform Act22 Jul 2009
Executive Order No. 810Institutionalizing the Certification Scheme for Digital Signatures and Directing the Application of Digital Signatures in E-Government Services15 Jun 2009
DOF-DTI Joint Department Administrative Order No. 09-02Amendment and Supplement to JDAO No.02, S. 2006 and JDO No. 01, S. 200729 Jul 2009
DTI-DOF Joint Department Administrative Order No. 10-01Guidelines on the Use of Access Devices for Payment of Fees, Charges, Assessments and Other Revenues Due to the Government through the Electronic Payment and Collection System (EPCS) of a Government Entity24 Mar 2010
DTI Department Administrative Order  No. 10-09Prescribing Rules Governing the Accreditation of Certification Authorities for Digital Signatures29 Sep 2010
DTI Department Administrative Order  No. 11-01Prescribing Rules and Guidelines for the Implementation of Executive Order No. 810, Series of 2009, Entitled “Institutionalizing the Certification Scheme for Digital Signatures and Directing the Application of Digital Signatures in E-Government Services”18 Feb 2011
NTC Memorandum Circular No. 03-04-2018Guidelines on Electronic Billing (E-Billing)06 Apr 2013
BSP Circular No. 808Guidelines on Information Technology Risk Management for All Banks and Other BSP Supervised Institutions22 Aug 2013
BSP Circular No. 859Europay, Mastercard and Visa (EMV) Implementation Guidelines24 Nov 2014
BSP Circular No. 980Adoption of National Retail Payment System (NRPS) Framework06 Nov 2017
Circular Letter 2018-005Philippine Payments Management, Inc. (PPMI)12 Jan 2018
Memorandum to All BSFIs M-2018-012Guidelines on the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) Key Principles and Specific Rules Applicable thereto23 Mar 2018
Memorandum to all BSFIs M-2018-013Disclosure of Fees on Electronic Payments Pursuant to Circular 98028 Mar 2018
BSP Circular No. 1000Guidelines on the Settlement of Instant Retail Payments23 Apr 2018
Memorandum to All BSFIs M-2018-021Frequently Asked Questions on Anti-Money Laundering-related concerns on the adoption of National Retail Payment Systems Framework 12 Jul 2018
Memorandum to All BSFIs M-2018-026Availability of InstaPay and PESONet in all existing electronic delivery channels04 Sep 2018
Republic Act No. 11127National Payment Systems Act – An Act Providing for the Regulation and Supervision of Payment Systems30 Oct 2018
BSP Circular No. 1022Amendments to Part Eight of the Manual of Regulations for Banks/Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions and Circular No. 980 dated 06 November 201726 Nov 2018
Memorandum to all BSFIs M-2019-001Personnel Education on and Publication of PESONet and InstaPay Information03 Jan 2019
BSP Circular No. 1033Amendments to Regulations on Electronic Banking Services and Other Electronic Operations22 Feb 2019
BSP Circular No. 1049Rules and Regulations on the Registration of Operator of Payment System09 Sep 2019
Memorandum No. M-2019-025Electronic Submission of Application for Electronic Payment and Financial Services10 Oct 2019
BSP Circular No. 1055Adoption of National Quick Response (QR) Code Standard10 Oct 2019
Memorandum No. M-2020-033Waiver of Fees Related to the Grant of License or Authority to Provide Electronic Payments and Financial ServicesApr 2020
BSP Circular No. 1089Payment System Oversight Framework07 Jul 2020
BIR RMC No. 5-2021Provides the simplified policies on the application for registration of Computerized Accounting System, Computerized Books of Accounts and/or its components, including Electronic Storage System, middleware and other similar systems08 Jan 2021
BSP Circular No. 1135Guidelines on the Settlement of Electronic Payments Under the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) Framework21 Jan 2022
BSP Circular No. 1138Regulatory Reporting Standards for Operators of Payment System (OPS)1 Mar 2022
BSP Memorandum No. M-2022-015Recommended Control Measures Against Cyber Fraud and Attacks on Retail Electronic Payments and Financial Services (EPFS)22 Mar 2022
BSP Circular No. 1140Amendments to Regulations on Information Technology Risk Management24 Mar 2022
Executive Order No. 170, s. 2022Adoption of Digital Payments for Government Disbursement and Collections12 May 2022

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

No.TitleDate of Issuance
Executive Order No. 269, s. 2004Creating the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT)12 Jan 2004
CICT Memorandum Circular No. 1Guidelines in the Administration of the .ph Domain NameAug 2004
NTC Memorandum Circular No. 05-08-2005Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)23 Aug 2005
NTC Memorandum Circular No. 06-08-2005Frequency Band Allocations for Broadband Wireless Access23 Aug 2005
NTC Memorandum Circular No. 07-08-2005Rules and Regulations on the Allocation and Assignment of 3G Radio Frequency Bands23 Aug 2005
NTC Memorandum Circular No. 04-06-2007Data Log Retention of Telecommunications Traffic08 Jun 2007
Republic Act No. 10844Department of Information and Communications Technology Act of 2015 – An Act Creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Defining its Powers and Functions Appropriating Funds Therefor, and For Other Purposes23 May 2016
NTC Memorandum Circular No. 10-12-2016Rules on the Measurement of Mobile Broadband/Internet Access Service13 Dec 2016
Republic Act No. 10929Free Internet Access in Public Places Act – An Act Establihsing the Free Internet Access Program in Public Places in the Country and Appropriating Funds Therefor02 Aug 2017
DICT Department Circular No. 12-CDigital Education Program- Project 318 June 2020
Executive Order No. 127, S. 2021Expanding the Provision of Internet Services Through Inclusive Access to Satellite Services, Amending Executive Order No. 467 (S. 1998) For The Purpose10 March 2021

DATA PRIVACY & SECURITY

No.TitleDate of Issuance
BSP Circular No. 511, s. 2006Guidelines on Technology Risk Management03 Feb 2006
DTI Department Administrative Order  No. 8Prescribing Guidelines for the Protection of Personal Data in Information and Communications System in the Private Sector21 Jul 2006
Executive Order No. 47, s. 2011Reorganizing, Renaming, and Transferring the Commission on Information and Communications Technology and its Attached Agencies to the Department of Science and Technology, Directing the Implementation Thereof and for Other Purposes23 Jun 2011
Republic Act No. 10173Data Privacy Act of 2012 – An Act Protecting Individual Personal Information in Information and Communications Systems in the Government and the Private Sector, Creating for this Purpose a National Privacy Commission, and for Other Purposes15 Aug 2012
Republic Act No. 10175Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 – An Act Defining Cybercrime, Providing for the Prevention, Investigation, Suppression and the Imposition of Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes12 Sep 2012
Executive Order No. 189, s. 2015Creating the National Cybersecurity Inter-Agency Committee17 Sep 2015
Executive Order No. 95, S. 2019Reorganizing the National Cybersecurity Inter-Agency Committee, Amending Executive Order No. 189 (S. 2015) And For Other Purposes15 Nov 2019
NPC Circular No. 2020-03Data Sharing Agreements23 Dec 2020

TAXATION

No.TitleDate of Issuance
BIR Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 55-2013Reiterating Taxpayers’ Obligations in Relation to Online Business Transactions22 Aug 2013
COA Circular No. 2013-007Guidelines for the Use of Electronic Official Receipts (eORs) to Acknowledge Collection of Income and Other Receipts of Government18 Sep 2013
BIR RMC 60-2020Obligations of Persons Conducting Business Transactions Through Any Forms of Electronic Media, and Notice to Unregistered Business.1 Jun 2020
BIR RMC No. 4-2021Prescribes the guidelines in the filing of tax returns, including the required attachments, and payment of internal revenue taxes08 Jan 2021
BIR RMC No. 13-2021Announces the availability of the BIR Mobile Taxpayer Identification Number Verifier Application27 Jan 2021

Proposed Bills

No.TitleDate of Issuance
CR No. 00543 HB No. 7805An Act Protecting Consumers and Merchants Engaged in Internet Transactions, Creating For This Purpose The ECommerce Bureau And Appropriating Funds ThereforOct 1 2020
HB No. 6122An Act of Protecting Consumers and Merchants Engaged in Internet Transactions, Creating for this Purpose the ECommerce Bureau and Appropriating Funds ThereforJan 30 2020
SB No. 1591An Act Protecting Consumers and Merchants engaged in Internet Transactions, Creating for this Purpose the Ecommerce Bureau and Appropriating Funds ThereforJun 9, 2020
HB 7084An Act Providing For Certain Exemptions From National Internal Revenue Taxes, And A Simplified Business Registration Process For Small-Time Online Sellers10 July 2020
SB No. 1677An Act Providing Measures To Protect Individuals Engaged In Food And Grocery Delivery Services3 Aug 2020
SB No. 1758An Act Amending Republic Act No. 8792 Or Otherwise Known As The Electronic Commerce Act Of 2000, And For Other Purposes20 Aug 2020
SB No.1808 An Act Promoting Online Transactions, Safeguarding The Rights Of Consumers And Merchants, And For Other Purposes 8 Sept 2020
SB No. 1840 An Act Amending Republic Act No. 8762, Otherwise Known As The Retail Trade Liberalization Act Of 2000, By Lowering The Required Paid-Up Capital For Foreign Retail Enterprises, And For Other Purposes22 Sept 2020
CR No. 00543 HB No. 7805An Act Protecting Consumers And Merchants Engaged In Internet Transactions, Creating For This Purpose The Ecommerce Bureau And Appropriating Funds Therefor 1 Oct 2020
CR No. 862 HB No. 08992An Act Promoting the Use of Digital Payments for Financial Transactions of the Government and All Merchants and for Other Purposes25 Mar 2021
HB 8064An Act Directing The Department Of Trade And Industry (DTI) To Create An Online Market Platform For Filipino Creative Arts, Products And Services To Support Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Especially During The COVID-19 Pandemic And Providing Funds Therefor23 Nov 2020
HB 7805 An Act Providing Protection To Consumers And Merchants Engaged In Internet Transactions, Creating For The Purpose The Electronic Commerce Bureau, And Appropriating Funds Therefor 24 Nov 2020
HB 9245 An Act Strengthening The Discount And Privileges Of Senior Citizens, Persons With Disabilities, and Students In Digital Transactions, Institutionalizing Mechanism Therefor and For Other Purposes 23 Apr 2021
SB Bo. 1764An Act Promoting the Use of Digital Payments for Financial Transactions of the Government and All Merchants and for Other Purposes11 Sept 2021
HB No. 7425An Act Imposing Value-Added Tax on Digital Transactions in the Philippines, amending for the Purpose Sections 105, 108, 109, 110, 113, 114 and 236 and Adding a New Section 105-A of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as Amended21 Sept 2021
An Act Establishing a Fiscal Regime for the Digital Economy, Amending for the Purpose Sections 22, 42, 50 and 57 of Republic Act No. 8424, Otherwise known as “The National Internal Revenue Code of 1997” or “Digital Economy Taxation Act”23 Mar 2022