The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Canberra to strengthen cooperation on competition advocacy and enforcement.
PCC chairperson Michael Aguinaldo and ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb signed the MOU on Feb. 28, 2024, which aims to facilitate the exchange of information, experiences and best practices on competition law and policy.
“The MOU will further solidify the strong bilateral ties between the Philippines and Australia and will enable the PCC to contribute to the effective enforcement of their respective competition laws,” Aguinaldo said.
The MOU encourages technical assistance and capacity-building activities between the two agencies, as well as coordination and cooperation on cases of mutual interest, subject to confidentiality and legal requirements.
Aguinaldo thanked the ACCC for its ongoing support to the PCC since its establishment in 2016, specifically its assistance in finalizing Philippine Competition Act rules and regulations, secondments of personnel under the Competition Law Implementation Program (CLIP) and regular capacity-building activities.
Cass-Gottlieb commended the PCC for its achievements in promoting fair and competitive markets in the Philippines.
“The ACCC is proud to be a partner of the PCC in advancing the common goals of consumer welfare and economic development,” she said.
She expressed confidence that the MOU will foster closer collaboration between the two agencies.
The PCC is the Philippines’ primary competition authority responsible for enforcing the Philippine Competition Act. The ACCC is Australia’s independent statutory authority that administers the Competition and Consumer Act of 2010.