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House panel approves internet transactions bill


The House of Representatives committee on trade and industry on Wednesday approved a consolidated version of bills that aim to regulate online transactions—a priority legislation of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

During a virtual panel hearing, presided over by Batangas Fifth District Representative Mario Mariño, the committee deliberated on the following House bills concerning internet transactions:

  • House Bill No. 4, introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Yedda Marie Romualdez, Ferdinand Alexander Marcos and Jude Acidre;
  • House Bill No. 687, introduced by Representative Joey Salceda
  • House Bill No. 779, introduced by Representative Rex Gatchalian
  • House Bill No. 2599, introduced by Representative Carlito Marquez
  • House Bill No. 2858, introduced by Representatives Eric Go Yap, Edvic Yap, Jocelyn Tulfo, Ralph Wendel Tulfo and Jeffrey Soriano
  • House Bill No. 2929, introduced by Representative Joseph Lara
  • House Bill No. 3011, introduced by Representative Rufus Rodriguez
  • House Bill No. 3050, introduced by Representative Paolo Duterte
  • House Bill No. 3084, introduced by Representative Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde
  • House Bill No. 3149, introduced by Representative Ambrosio Cruz Jr.
  • House Bill No. 3422, introduced by Representative Kristine Singson-Meehan
  • House Bill No. 3564, introduced by Representative Christopherson Yap

The bills seek to regulate internet commercial activities and ensure the protection of consumers who engage in online transactions.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Marcos listed the proposed Internet Transaction Act or E-Commerce Law as one of his priority legislative measures for the 19th Congress. 

Gatchalian moved for the "omnibus approval" of the measures, citing Section 48 of the House Rules since all the measures are of the similarly titled "Internet Transactions bill," the same content, identified as a priority measure by the President, and were already approved in the previous Congress. 

Section 48 of the House Rules states that "[i]n case of bills or resolutions that are identified as priority measures of the House, which were previously filed in the immediately preceding Congress and have been approved on third reading, the same may be disposed of as matters already reported upon the approval of a majority of the members of the committee present, there being a quorum." 

Baguio City Representative Mark Go then called for the consolidation of all the bills "using the bill that was approved in third and final reading in the House during the 18th Congress as the lead bill and approving the same." 

No panel member objected to Gatchalian and Go's motions. 

"We just passed the House bills mentioned," Mariño said.

The House panel chair then directed the committee secretary to prepare a committee report and facilitate its submission for inclusion in the House’s calendar of business. —VBL, GMA News

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