DTI moves Trustmark registration deadline to Dec. 31 to boost MSME compliance

Business | Economics Posted on 2025-09-22 06:28:46

MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended the deadline for registration under the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark program from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, giving small businesses more time to secure the badge that certifies legitimate online sellers.

“The Trustmark is not a regulation to burden businesses but a tool to protect them from scammers who erode consumer confidence. Our goal is to make it easier for consumers to identify trusted sellers so entrepreneurs can focus on growing their business,” DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said in a statement Friday.

Roque noted that major platforms such as TikTok, Lazada, and Shopee have already secured their Trustmark badges, and more are expected to follow as the new deadline approaches.

As of Sept. 19, a total of 10,057 businesses have submitted applications, according to DTI E-Commerce Bureau Officer-in-Charge Eryl Royce Nagtalon. He estimated that of the 1.2 to 1.3 million registered micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide, around 500,000 have already shifted to e-commerce, with the number potentially reaching 900,000 as businesses operate across multiple platforms.

Nagtalon stressed that widespread registration will strengthen the online marketplace. “It’s good because it means competition is very healthy, the e-commerce system is very healthy,” he said.

The Trustmark is mandated under Republic Act 11967, or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, and DTI Department Administrative Order 25-07. Applicants must pay a ₱1,000 annual application fee, ₱100 web administration fee, and ₱30 documentary stamp tax.

MSMEs registered under the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise program are exempted from the application and web administration fees for their first year. DTI Assistant Secretary Marcus Valdez II added that the agency will continue to support MSMEs through Negosyo Centers to help them scale up operations.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR

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