DTI Hunts Down Online Barter With PNP & NBI, Says Act Is Illegal
DTI HUNTS DOWN ONLINE BARTER – Previously, the government said they would tax online sellers, now, online bartering is being tagged as illegal.
Amidst the coronavirus quarantine in the Philippines, bartering had become the new standard for thousands of Filipinos. Due to tight budgets caused by the lockdown, many have resorted to exchanging goods and services instead.
According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, engaging in barter trade is illegal. During a press conference on Tuesday, the DTI Secretary stated: “Bawal po ‘yan dahil labag po yan sa tax law“.
Based on an article from AdvocateSomi, Lopez said that his department already coordinated with the NBI and the PNP to hunt down individuals who do online bartering. Furthermore, he highlighted that the exchanging of goods and services would only be allowed in Mindanao.
He cited that places such as Jolo and Tawi-Tawi would be an exception to the law because of the limited resources available in the area. However, he wanted to ensure the public knew that “in other places, that’s (bartering) prohibited”.
READ: Duterte Approves To Reviving The Barter Trade In Mindanao
The Bartering initiative started in Bacolod City and eventually spread throughout the Philippines. But, will this warning put a stop to the massive community built around bartering?
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