Various agencies led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have signed Joint Administrative Order No. 24-03, Series of 2024 containing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11967, or The Internet Transactions Act of 2023 (ITA).
To recall, the ITA is intended to regulate e-commerce, protect consumer rights and data privacy, and uphold intellectual property rights.
The IRR clarifies the scope and coverage of the ITA, the enforcement powers of the DTI vis-à-vis other agencies, and the applicable procedure for imposition of fines.

On 19 July 2024, pursuant to the National Payment Systems Act, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP; Philippine Central Bank) issued Circular No. 1198, Series of 2024 on the Regulatory Framework for Merchant Payment Acceptance Activities (MPAA). The regulatory framework aims to establish standards and best practices to safeguard customer funds and protect merchants’ rights when dealing with operators of payment systems (OPS) engaged in MPAA.
BSP Circular No. 1198 took effect on 8 August 2024, 15 days after the circular’s publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

On 10 December 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11595, otherwise known as ‘An Act amending Republic Act No. 8762 or the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000, by lowering the paid-up capital requirement for foreign retail enterprises and other purposes.’ RA 11595 took effect on 21 January 2022.

On 10 December 2021, Republic Act No. 11595, otherwise known as “An Act amending Republic Act No. 8762 or the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000 (RTLA), by lowering the paid-up capital requirement for foreign retail enterprises and other purposes” was signed into law. It removes the requirement for a Certificate of Prequalification and the need to show compliance with the criteria for prequalification under the RTLA to the Philippine Board of Investments, before a foreign retailer can invest in or engage in a retail trade business in the Philippines.