BENTAHAN NG ILLEGAL VAPES SA ONLINE SHOPPING APPS, TALAMAK

NAKATAKDANG paimbestigahan ni Senator Raffy Tulfo ang irregular na bentahan ng vape products sa Lazada, Shopee, TikTok, at iba pang social media platforms, gayundin ang paglaganap ng fake items sa online.

Sa inihaing Resolution No.1232, nanawagan si Tulfo sa kinauukulang Senate committee na imbestigahan sa tulog ng pagsasabatas ang irregual na bentahan ng vapes at iba pang regulated goods sa iba’t ibang e-marketplaces at paglaganap ng pekeng items sa online na pawag paglabag sa Republic Act 11967 o Onternet Transaction Act of 2023.

“RA 11967 is a new law that aims to protect online consumers and sellers by setting clear rules for online transactions, including the sale, distribution, and advertisement of goods and services. The ITA provides for the effective government regulation of e-commerce to protect consumer rights and data privacy, secure internet transactions, promote intellectual property rights, and ensure product standards and safety compliance,” ayon kay Tulfo.

Binanggit din sa resolusyon ang Department of Trade (DTI) Administrative Order No. 24-03, Series of 2024, nitong July 16, 2024, na sinusupendi ang online selling, distribution, at advertising ng vape products at devices maliban kung tumutupad ang seller sa “proof-of-age” verification at iba pang requirements sa ilalim ng ITA.

“Despite the issuance of the administrative order, vape products and devices are still being sold online through e-commerce platforms such as Lazada and Shopee,” ayon sa resolusyon.

Aniya: “while some sellers have the “verification” feature, this process can easily be circumvented and bypassed, making these regulated products readily accessible even to minors.”

Sinabi ni Tulfo na walang verification features ang online platform na Tiktok sa nakalagay sa account ng seller at binabalewala ng iba ang verification process sa linyang — “order via private message.

This renders the directive of DTI useless and futile.”

“In addition to the irregular sale of vapes, several online sellers are also actively violating community guidelines and policies by selling adult and explicit items using offensive images,” ayon kay Tulfo sa resolution.

Iginiit ng senador na walang sapat na disclaimer ang produkto at may maling pamagat na maaaring pasukin ng bata o indibiduwal na wala pa sa hustong gulang.

“The Philippines has, in fact, been labeled as Asia’s epicenter for online shopping scams, and these illegal activities distinctly rise during Christmas season, where scammers take advantage of people’s increased spending, generosity, and holiday-related stress to trick them into falling for various fraudulent schemes,” aniya pa.

Binanggit din ng senador sa resolusyon ang kumakalat na bentahan ang “Labubu” doll craze, na ibinebenta ang original at knock-off versions sa presyo na nakakabigla.