Some bloggers and social media marketers who use online promotions to connect with more people are reacting to the requirement of a DTI Permit.
Check out the post Individuals, Bloggers, Businesses need a DTI Sales Promotion Permit even if there is no purchase required and scroll down to the comments to see the different reactions.
Carlo Ople is Protesting the DTI Sales Promotion Permit for Blogger Giveaways, because this will require bloggers (who simply blog out of passion) to set-up an office and get a Barangay Permit as well as a Mayor’s Permit.
Blogger Manila writes that the DTI Sales Promotion Permit for Blogger Contests Needs a Dose of Common Sense, because the applying the existing DTI policy even to small blogger contests is impractical.
Ellen Joy Castel Cayaba, the Pinay Blogger and Blogerette pitches in on the DTI Permit for Blog Giveaways and Contests with Stay Away From My Blogs, and asks why an outdated policy (which was created long before blogs became popular) is now rising from its deep slumber.
Yes, that’s the million peso question.
Perhaps, online giveaways, online contests, and promotions are getting so popular, and more people are noticing.
Imagine, you conduct a GIVEAWAY contest where people do not purchase anything. But then, you still need a DTI permit? A Mayor’s Permit? What, spend around P900.00 so that the DTI won’t go after you when a consumer complains about your online contest?
And when you blog, you are potentially able to reach every Filipino who has internet access. So, does that make your online contest national in scope? How much is the DTI Permit for that?
According to Social Media Contest and Promotions Philippines (SMCaPP):
…individuals, bloggers, and businesses do need a DTI Sales Promotion Permit whenever they run an online or offline sales promotion even if there is no purchase required as you are targeting consumers to participate.
Here’s the Solution: Bloggers will simply have to target non-consumers when they conduct their online contests or online giveaways.
Post a large enough banner that reads: For Non-Consumers Only.
Again, from the SMCaPP blog post which references the Consumer Act of the Philippines:
“Consumer” means a natural person who is a purchaser, lessee, recipient or prospective purchaser, lessor or recipient of consumer products, services or credit.
So who are non-consumers in the Philippines?
Babies.
No, wait. Babies are recipients of consumer products. That means babies are consumers.
Okay, how about people who have no cash to spend? They’re not consumers, right?
No, wait… Such people can still be recipients of credit.
Hey, we’re not lawyers so please don’t take this as legal advice. Anyway, bloggers and online contest promoters can simply target juridical persons (e.g., companies).
Or, if you want to give stuff to your blog readers/consumers, then go get a Mayor’s Permit and secure your DTI Permit and make the government happy. 🙂
Or… bloggers can make their online contest mechanics simpler.
What if… bloggers no longer hold contests?
Just give your stuff away. Completely FREE.
It’s up to your readers if they will post comments, or publish a blog post and link to you and/or the online contest sponsors. Leave it completely up to your readers if they will LIKE your Facebook fanpage, even after they enjoy all the goodies you’re giving away for free.
Or… why don’t you partner with someone outside the Philippines, and have them handle the giveaways or online contests? That way, you can still show your appreciation for your readers, minus the hassles of spending time and money for a permit.
Anyway, let’s see how things turn out in the future, after more dialogues are conducted between the DTI and Pinoy bloggers.
Kind regards,
The Viloria.net Staff
