The Year Ahead for Market Competition by Arsenio M. Balisacan, PhD January 9, 2019 In last week’s column, I shared the key accomplishments of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) in 2018, which we consider as the first full year of the country’s new competition policy regime. Throughout last year, the commission placed the consumers, along… continue reading ››
Consumers at the heart of Competition Policy by Arsenio M. Balisacan, PhD January 2, 2019 For nearly three years now since its establishment in 2016, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has sustained its momentum in promoting consumer welfare and competitive processes under the game-changing Philippine Competition Act (PCA). The transitory period provided by the PCA… continue reading ››
Christmas bargains, bundling, and competition by Atty. Amabelle C. Asuncion December 5, 2018 The cold early-morning breeze, dancing streetlights and nostalgic Jose Mari Chan tunes cannot but signify that the Yuletide season is here. It is the time of year when godparents suffer temporarily from selective amnesia. The only antidote to this holiday disease is… continue reading ››
The PCC and the Third Telco by Atty. Johannes Benjamin R. Bernabe October 31, 2018 FILIPINOS will have a taste of more competition in the telecoms market once the third major player begins operations in 2019. This will come on the heels of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission’s… continue reading ››
Chances and choices: Lotto and ‘siling labuyo’ by Atty. Amabelle C. Asuncion October 10, 2018 A testament to the unique Filipino trait of having fun even in adversity, the recent headlines on rising prices of rice and fuel are interspersed with updates on the billion-peso lotto jackpot. The record jackpot has attracted habitual gamers and… continue reading ››
Of Rice and Art by Stella Luz A. Quimbo September 26, 2018 At the moment, inflation dictates our state of mind. Policymakers are debating what might have caused rising prices. Is inflation a result of external factors or domestic policies, particularly, the TRAIN law? More important, what steps can be taken to arrest further price… continue reading ››
Competition: A Whole-Of-Government Effort by Arsenio M. Balisacan, PhD September 12, 2018 Millennials and succeeding generations will not be able to recall a time when Philippine businesses and consumers had no choice but to engage in a highly concentrated market characterized by the absence of any significant competitive pressure. The State held inefficiently run monopolies… continue reading ››
The ‘dating app phenomenon’ of digital platforms by Atty. Amabelle C. Asuncion August 28, 2018 The proposed traffic scheme banning single-rider vehicles along Edsa during rush hour has generated mixed, mostly satirical, if not downright sarcastic reactions from single drivers and commuters alike. Social-network posts range from complaints about discrimination to a mad rush for… continue reading ››
Holding Grab by the Horns by Atty. Johannes Benjamin R. Bernabe August 14, 2018 Grab’s acquisition of Uber is a landmark case for the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC). It is the first transaction that the PCC reviewed motu proprio (i.e., on the PCC’s own initiative) and, with the August 10 decision, resulted in a conditional… continue reading ››
Big and Special by Stella Luz A. Quimbo July 31, 2018 At the recent Competition Law Asia conference held in Singapore, the conference chairman reminded participants what Spider-Man once said: with great power comes great responsibility. By “power”, the conference chairman was, of course, referring to market power, rather than the abilities of a superhero…. continue reading ››