Manila, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced that registration for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark will remain voluntary until December 31, 2025.
The update was made on October 15 during the ‘BIDA ANG KONSYUMER: Ensuring a Safe and Reliable E-Commerce Environment’ town hall meeting, which gathered online business operators, consumer groups, and digital trade advocates to discuss the programme’s implementation.
DTI secretary Cristina A. Roque said the decision followed consultations with various sectors, noting that the department values continued engagement with stakeholders.
“We used this discussion to hear straight from our stakeholders and learn about their daily concerns. Taking their feedback into account means we can improve the Trustmark system to be more useful, fair, and helpful for both businesses and consumers. After all, our shared goal is to make e-commerce in the Philippines safer and more trustworthy for everyone,” Secretary Roque said.
The voluntary registration period will run until the end of 2025, after which the DTI will review whether to maintain or adjust this approach in early 2026. It can be remembered that the DTI had formerly announced the Trustmark registration period until the end of September last month, before extending it until the end of 2025.
The agency also reminded the public that existing e-commerce laws will continue to be strictly enforced. Meanwhile, consumer groups have welcomed the Trustmark as a means of safeguarding online buyers, while businesses said it could help curb fraudulent activities and unregistered entities that disrupt legitimate operations.
Both sectors urged the DTI to expand public awareness of the programme and expressed support for making the initiative mandatory in the future. The DTI is currently finalising supplemental guidelines for the Trustmark, including provisions on voluntary registration and applicable fees based on business size and type. In the meantime, online businesses may continue to submit applications through https://trustmark.dti.gov.ph/.
