The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has encouraged the public to adopt e-commerce to transact businesses.

“Wala ng pupuntahan kundi ang mag-adopt sa (there is no way to go but adopt) e-commerce because that is now the direction… We have no choice but to be ready,” DTI Baguio Benguet provincial director, lawyer Samuel Gallardo, said in a press conference on Wednesday as the country celebrates the Consumer Welfare Month.

Gallardo said the e-commerce transaction roadmap targets for the end of 2022 an 11.4-percent increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) as a result of the e-commerce transactions. The percentage translates to PHP1.3 trillion.

He said before the pandemic, only about 500,000 businesses had an online presence but as early as the middle of 2021, the number leaped to more than 2 million and was exponentially growing.

He added people are becoming more immersed in e-commerce as purchases and payments are easier with just a scroll on the cellular phones.

However, Gallardo advised the public to be more prudent in availing of services and buying goods to avoid wastage.

He said part of DTI programs is to prepare consumers to become more responsible buyers.

Gallardo said people tend to be irresponsible in buying things even if they are not necessary and have “no impact on society in general.” (PNA)