Agusan del Norte 1st District Member Representative Lawrence “Law” Fortun calls out online selling platforms including Shopee and Lazada to ensure customer protection on the 12.12 online sale this Saturday.

According to Fortun, customer protection should be considered as a corporate social responsibility by online selling platforms and computer applications.

Ever since the community quarantine was implanted, Filipinos have turned to online shopping due to its convenience.

However, it does not guarantee that customers were always left with satisfaction upon receiving their orders.

The lawmaker also urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other concerned sectors to exert more effort in this regard for the benefit of the consumers.

“I implore the Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and other regulatory agencies to take a combination of transparent, proactive, preventive, incentivized, and punitive actions to protect consumers,” said Fortun.

Meanwhile, Fortun also reminded buyers to be more “vigilant” in engaging with online sellers.

“I ask consumers to be exercise caution and vigilance and be aware that abuse by sellers and neglect and disregard by the platforms are forms form of corruption and should be actionable wrongs,” he said. “These abuses should be reported and our authorities should respond. That e-commerce is a new mode and we need new legislations to address these abuses is not an excuse for government’s inability to protect our consumers.”

Lazada and Shopee are among the biggest e-commerce platforms in the country. It conducts massive the biggest sales in the country every month (namely 10.10, 11.11, 12.12, etc.) which gives avid online consumers the opportunity to get the best deals for their desired items.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Lawrence ‘Law’ Fortun