Marketplace & MSME Compliance Policies

1. MSME Producer & Supplier Verification Tiers

To maintain high transaction trust and eliminate counterfeit trading, GawangPinas implements a 3-tier Know-Your-Customer (KYC) accreditation framework for all suppliers:

All supplier accreditations undergo mandatory annual validation. Failure to renew business permits results in temporary suspension of Tier 2/Tier 3 badges.

2. Product Listing, Authentic Origin & Quality Standards

Every product catalog entry on GawangPinas must satisfy strict authenticity and quality guidelines:

• Philippine Origin Guarantee: All items listed must be grown, harvested, crafted, formulated, or manufactured within the Philippine archipelago. Re-packaging imported finished goods is strictly prohibited.
• High-Fidelity Visuals: Product imagery must be real, high-resolution photographs (minimum 1000 × 1000px) clearly illustrating raw material textures, dimensions, and authentic color tones. Stock rendering spam with false branding is banned.
• Accurate Specifications: Sellers must state authentic net weight, dimensions, material composition (e.g., 100% Hablon cotton-polyester blend), expiration dates, and shelf-life instructions.
• Prohibited Catalog Items: Firearms, explosive materials, unapproved pharmaceuticals, hazardous chemicals, wildlife-derived items (violating DENR regulations), and counterfeit goods are strictly prohibited.

3. Wholesale Pricing & Factory Price Parity

GawangPinas exists to empower transparent B2B commerce. Suppliers agree to adhere to the following pricing principles:

All prices must be quoted in Philippine Pesos (PHP / ₱) inclusive of standard domestic taxes, with volume break tiers explicitly configured for transparent instant checkout.

4. Non-Circumvention Policy (Zero Off-Platform Trading)

To protect ecosystem integrity and maintain Trade Escrow security:

Attempting to share personal bank account details, external payment links, or encouraging off-platform settlement in platform chat correspondence results in automated message interception and immediate Strike 2 disciplinary action.

5. Request for Quotation (RFQ) Response Protocol & SLAs

Institutional buyers submit custom Requests for Quotations (RFQs) for high-volume enterprise orders. Verified suppliers participating in the RFQ program must comply with the following Service Level Agreements (SLAs):

• 48-Hour Response SLA: Suppliers notified of matching RFQs must submit a quotation, request clarification, or decline within forty-eight (48) hours.
• 14-Day Bid Validity: Submitted price bids must remain binding and valid for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days.
• Sample Provisioning: If custom production samples are requested, suppliers must declare whether sample fees will be credited toward the final bulk invoice upon purchase order execution.

6. Trade Escrow Holding & Release Safeguards

All procurement payments are protected under GawangPinas Trade Escrow. The following rules govern fund release:

1. Payment Locking: 100% of order funds are held securely in escrow upon buyer checkout.
2. Waybill Verification: Producers must dispatch freight via authorized couriers and upload valid tracking waybills.
3. 72-Hour Quality Inspection Window: Upon delivery confirmation, the Buyer is granted exactly 72 hours to inspect piece counts and physical quality.
4. Automatic Escrow Release: If the Buyer confirms acceptance or if 72 hours elapse without a dispute claim, funds are immediately released to the Producer's verified payout account.

7. Packaging & Freight Shipping Standards

Wholesale bulk orders require robust packaging to withstand inter-island transit across the Philippine archipelago:

• Export-Grade Outer Cartons: Heavy-duty corrugated 5-ply cartons reinforced with edge protectors for palletized freight.
• Moisture & Climate Barrier: Moisture-absorbent silica packs and sealed polyethylene liners for vulnerable textiles (Hablon, Piña, Inabel) and food commodities (Cacao, Tablea, VCO).
• Fragile & Hazardous Labeling: Prominent orientation arrows, "FRAGILE" stickers, and weatherproof shipping manifests affixed to all sides.
• Standard Documentation: Commercial Delivery Receipt (DR) and official BIR Sales Invoice securely packed in the exterior documentation pouch.

8. Quality Inspection, Tolerances & RMA Protocol

Wholesale manufacturing operates under the international Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL 2.5) standard for general consumer goods:

Minor artisanal variations (such as natural wood grain nuances in bamboo or organic weave irregularities in hand-spun hablon) are accepted characteristics of authentic handcrafted goods and do not constitute defective batches.

In the event of genuine material defect or transit destruction, the Buyer must file a formal Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) within the 72-hour window accompanied by unboxing video proof and high-resolution photographic evidence.

9. Ratings, Reviews & Anti-Astroturfing Integrity

To maintain verified supplier reputation:

• Verified Transactions Only: Reviews and star ratings may only be submitted by buyers who have completed authenticated wholesale transactions.
• No Coercion: Suppliers may not condition order fulfillment, warranties, or refunds upon receiving 5-star reviews.
• Content Moderation: Reviews containing abusive language, competitors' false claims, or private personal phone numbers will be removed by platform moderators upon audit.

10. 3-Strike Disciplinary Penalty Matrix

Violations of marketplace policies are enforced transparently under our 3-Strike Escalation Framework: