DTI makes trustmark voluntary until 2026
After months of debate over whether to make it mandatory or optional, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced that the contentious e-commerce trustmark will remain voluntary until the end of 2026.
In a statement on Monday announcing what it described as “good news for online business,” the DTI said that the extension would give online sellers “more time to join at their own pace.”
Still, the agency urged businesses to apply for the trustmark, which is a digital verification badge for online merchants who comply with fair e-commerce practices, consumer protection rules and applicable standards.
The DTI said merchants who secure the trustmark can benefit from increased credibility and distinction from competitors, potentially driving higher sales and greater consumer loyalty due to increased trust.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters that the DTI had no objection to keeping the trustmark voluntary, especially if doing so would benefit consumers.
Roque added that the agency would review the policy again after Dec. 31, 2026.
18,000 applications
Despite being voluntary, the trustmark has drawn 18,405 applications as of Dec. 22, according to the DTI.
The badge is valid for one year and costs over P1,000. However, the fee is waived for microbusinesses with assets not exceeding P3 million.
Developed under the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) of 2023, the DTI’s e-commerce trustmark is intended to identify legitimate online merchants that comply with the ITA and other applicable laws, regulations and standards.
Online merchants who secure the trustmark can display it on their websites, seller profiles and product pages. For sellers with physical stores, the badge may also be displayed at their registered place of business.
However, business groups have raised concerns that a mandatory trustmark would only do more harm than good, as it imposes additional costs and unnecessary burdens on online sellers.
In November, advocacy group Online Negosyo Empowerment Community criticized the trustmark as “redundant” and “duplicative.”
Sen. Bam Aquino also expressed reservations, saying the policy ran counter to the principles of the ITA and the Ease of Doing Business Act, and urged the DTI to make the trustmark “free, simple and genuinely hopeful.”
Following the backlash, the DTI reversed its earlier order, which had required online sellers to secure the badge by Sept. 30, and instead made the trustmark voluntary until Dec. 31, 2025. The latest decision extends that period through 2026.
