Short Title: | Philippine Competition Act |
Long Title: | An Act Providing for a National Competition Policy Prohibiting Anti-Competitive Agreements, Abuse of Dominant Position and Anti-Competitive Mergers and Acquisitions, Establishing the Philippine Competition Commission and Appropriating Funds Therefor |
Citation: | Republic Act 10667 |
Territorial Extent: | Philippines |
Legislature: | Congress of the Philippines |
Enacted By: | House of Representatives |
Enacted By2: | Senate |
Date Signed: | July 21, 2015 |
Signed By: | Benigno Aquino III |
Status: | in force |
The Philippine Competition Act, officially designated as Republic Act No. 10667, is a Philippine law that was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III on July 21, 2015, and established the quasi-judicial Philippine Competition Commission to enforce the act.[1] [2] [3] [4] The act is intended to ensure efficient and fair market competition among businesses engaged in trade, industry, and all commercial economic activities.[3] It prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuses of dominant positions, and mergers and acquisitions that limit, prevent, and restrict competition.[5]
A comprehensive competition law was first proposed in the late 1980s during the administration of President Cory Aquino.
The Philippines was the only country in ASEAN without a competition law and the integration of ASEAN into a single market was an impetus to pass the act.
The Philippine Competition Commission is an independent, quasi-judicial body created to enforce the act. It is attached to the Office of the President of the Philippines.[6] Five commissioners were appointed to the Philippine Competition Commission and sworn in on January 27, 2015:[7]
Arsenio Balisacan resigned from his post as Philippine Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority to lead the Philippine Competition Commission.[3] Guevarra left the Commission after he was appointed Senior Deputy Executive Secretary. He was replaced by lawyer Amabelle Asuncion.
In February 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Michael Aguinaldo as the new Chairperson of the PCC, replacing former Chairperson Arsenio Balisacan.