CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have joined forces and discussed strategies for addressing anti-competitive practices that impact the agriculture sector.
The collaboration aims to safeguard the interests of Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers by promoting fair competition and market transparency.
Key topics tackled during the meeting included price fixing, abuses of dominant market positions, and the smuggling of agricultural products—issues that distort competition and drive up prices.
The recently held dialogue signified a critical step in strengthening the partnership between the PCC and DA as they work towards ensuring a level playing field in the agriculture industry.
Several areas of cooperation were identified: data sharing: task force creation; case development; capacity building; and market monitoring.
In data sharing, DA and PCC aims to enhance transparency by exchanging market date to better understand market dynamics.
The planned task force creation also will create a specialized team to address anti-competitive practices in various agricultural sectors.
The partnership also through its planned capability building program will conduct training and information exchanges to improve enforcement capabilities.
A market monitoring team will also be established to conduct compliance checks and investigation into potential violations.
The meeting was attended by PCC representatives, including Commissioner Ferdinand M. Negre, Executive Director Kenneth V. Tanate, and Competition Enforcement Office Director Christian Loren B. De Los Santos. The DA was represented by Undersecretaries Alvin John F. Balagbag and Roger V. Navarro, along with other senior officials from the Inspectorate and Enforcement Office.
This joint initiative underscores the commitment of both agencies to fostering a competitive and fair agricultural market.
By addressing anti-competitive practices, the PCC and DA aim to protect the rights of consumers and strengthen the agricultural sector, ensuring equitable benefits for all stakeholders.