Permit and license applications in the country have improved this year by 9 percent in the third quarter, the Department of Trade and Industry reported, as a result of faster digital services and stronger market enforcement, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to improve government services and ensure fair and safe markets for all Filipinos.

According to the DTI–Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), through the Integrated Registration Information System (IRegIS), it has processed 39,997 permits and licenses to date, marking a 9 percent increase from last year.

The DTI said that with the IRegIS now fully rolled out nationwide, consumers and businesses can complete regulatory transactions faster and with fewer steps.

On the other hand, the Mediation Division of DTI–FTEB has resolved 33,725 consumer complaints with zero backlog, helping more Filipinos resolve issues quickly through the Consumer Complaints Assistance and Resolution System (CAReS), the agency’s online portal for filing and tracking complaints.

Amid rapidly growing e-commerce, DTI’s Online Monitoring Units have screened 204,255 online product links to protect the public from harmful and misleading products.

Further, the number of takedown requests has risen by 43 percent from last year, covering an estimated P378.2 billion worth of listings.

Confiscation

Meanwhile, DTI–FTEB also recorded rising product compliance even as it continues to remove substandard goods.

This year, it confiscated 541,235 non-conforming products worth P130.8 million. While 62 percent lower than the retail value of 2024 seizures, this reflects stronger adherence by industries and retailers to fair trade standards.

From January to October, the DTI said it has also strengthened market visibility with 7,558 monitoring activities, which is 31 percent higher than the same period in 2024.

“These efforts lay the foundation for sustained excellence. The DTI aims not only to maintain these gains but to surpass them in the coming years. This is our pledge,” the DTI Fair Trade Group (FTG) said.

The DTI continues its commitment to digital upgrades and market enforcement to deliver faster service, safer products, and a more transparent marketplace. This shift to paperless operations streamlines frontline services and promotes sustainability.