Philippines: Department of Trade and Industry issued report on online consumer complaints following mediation initiative with e-commerce platforms

On 5 March 2026, the Department of Trade and Industry reported that pending consumer complaints had been reduced by more than 50% following a nationwide mediation initiative conducted between 23 and 27 February 2026. The initiative was organised by the Department of Trade and Industry Fair Trade Group and Regional Operations Group and involved mediation officers from regional offices addressing consumer disputes. The Department of Trade and Industry also engaged e-commerce platforms including Shopee, Lazada and Foodpanda to coordinate the handling of complaints arising from online transactions. The platforms stated that they would strengthen internal complaint-handling capacity and accelerate the resolution of digital consumer disputes, including claims concerning refunds, replacements and product warranty issues.