The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended the deadline of the Trustmark registration until the end of the year from the original September 30 deadline to give more time to the estimated 900,000 online merchants to get their badge of trustworthiness and ensure protection and safety of consumers.
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said at the press conference Friday on the implementation of the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (Trustmark), a law that requires online merchants to get a badge of trustworthiness from DTI to ensure they are not engage in online scams but are legitimate entrepreneurs selling legitimate items.
At the same time, Roque said that DTI is also looking at extending the one year validity period of the Trustmark to another year to the registered merchant.
The extended deadline ensures that the estimated 900,000 online firms that have been onboarded in eight major e-commerce platforms have enough time to register. But DTI also said this number may just around 500,000 in actual because they may have double or more listing in the various e-commerce platforms.
So far, there are more than 8,000 businesses in TikTok, Shop, Shopee, and Lazada thave already applied for Trustmark registration.
There are also an estimated 1.3 million micro businesses registered under the the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise Act of 2002 or the BMBE law.
To assist small entrepreneurs, DTI affirmed that BMBEs or businesses with total assets of three million pesos or less, are exempt from the PHP1,000 registration fee. Small businesses with total assets of PHP15 million or less will be assessed half of the registration fee. They will only need to pay a PHP100 web administration fee and PHP30 documentary stamp tax for their certificate.
Roque said the growing number of digital merchants only showed that Filipino entrepreneurs are embracing the digital platform to reach more customers and to really level up their business. “The reason why there’s also a strength in the e-commerce platform is we’re 7,600 islands,” she said adding the huge 115 million population.
However, challenges arise along with the growth, such as online fraud, counterfeit goods, and dishonest trade practices hurting both the consumers and the legitimate businessmen. Thus, the implementation of the Trustmark system.
From January to August 2025, DTI received over 13,000 online transaction complaints.
Under the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, e-commerce businesses are now required to register through the Philippine e-commerce Trustmark System. This single digital permit validates platforms, e-marketplaces, and merchants who comply with trade regulations.
“The trustmark isn’t just a logo,” Roque emphasized. “It is a seal of assurance for consumers. It is a promise that the business is authentic and accountable. For businesses, it means more visibility and direct support from the Department of Trade and Industry, or DTI, in helping them grow while they keep your trust safe.”
DTI issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 25-12 on September 4, which requires online businesses to register with the E-Commerce Bureau (ECB).
This is pursuant to Republic Act No. 119607, or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, that mandates the DTI to: enforce the registration of digital platforms and online merchants with the ECB and exercise the Department’s regulatory jurisdiction as to the use of the internet for conducting e-commerce.
Concerned entities are obligated to disclose their accurate and complete business information, submit the necessary permits and licenses, and maintain an accessible and responsive internal redress mechanism for consumer complaints, among other requirements, to the ECB.
