A TOP executive of the local operator of the foodpanda brand said the Delivery Hero Logistics Philippines Inc. (Dhlpi) supports the e-commerce bill pending in Congress.
Dhlpi Managing Director Daniel Marogy said during the first e-commerce congress held recently at the Philippine International Convention Center that the local firm of Delivery Hero SE fully supports the passage of this bill. Marogy said they believe the bill will help in the development of the industry.
“We need a strong support and collaboration from key players like us to build an inclusive and sustainable e-commerce ecosystem in the country,” Marogy said.
Among the new laws and regulations being drafted at present to address this is House Bill 6122, or the Internet Transactions Act (ITA).
The ITA aims to establish trust between online merchants and consumers through secure and reliable e-commerce platforms.
“Given the diversity of the business models in the market today, and the increasing reach of e-commerce generally, we share the view of the government that appropriate policies to regulate the interaction between businesses, consumers, and other stakeholders is necessary,” Marogy said.
He expressed gratitude to the trade and industry department “for leading the way in supporting the development of the ITA.”
“You can count on us to continue working with the government and other stakeholders for the improvement and the growth of e-commerce in the country,” Marogy said.
He explained that for this law to push the industry’s growth, other factors must be considered, such as addressing the hindrances for players to maximize the use of e-commerce and reducing regulatory uncertainty to nurture the businesses under this sector.
“To come up with an optimal framework for the entire industry, we also need to balance the interest of all the stakeholders—businesses and consumers alike,” Marogy said. He added the need to provide a fair playing field so that small players like micro-scale, small-sized and medium-sized enterprises can have access to digital platform services.
Marogy said they are committed to actively supporting MSMEs through digitalization, as they believe that it is key in the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery and growth of the digital economy.
For him, realizing this vision is possible through collaboration among all those comprising the e-commerce ecosystem—from digital platforms to partner merchants, delivery service providers, and consumers.
“By working together with the government, we can create an enabling environment for the continued growth of the e-commerce industry and stability of the Philippine economy,” he said.
Based on a study done by Google, Temasek and Bain & Co., the country’s Internet economy grew by 93 percent—the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia—and is seen to continue to increase in the coming years.
“e-commerce is a vast and ever-evolving industry, and we can attest to this,” Marogy said.