PRESS RELEASE
4 March 2024

PCC, ACCC sign MOU to strengthen cooperation on competition policy

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation between the two agencies on advocacy and enforcement.

On 28 February 2024, PCC Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo and ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb signed the MOU in a ceremony in ACCC’s office in Canberra, Australia.

The MOU aims to facilitate the exchange of information, experiences, and best practices on competition law and policy and to promote technical assistance and capacity-building activities between the PCC and ACCC. The MOU also provides for coordination and cooperation on cases of mutual interest, subject to confidentiality and legal requirements.

In his opening remarks, Aguinaldo expressed his gratitude to ACCC for its consistent support to the PCC since its establishment in 2016. He highlighted the various forms of aid that ACCC has extended to the PCC over the years, such as assistance in the finalization of the rules and regulations of the Philippine Competition Act, secondments of officials and staff under the Competition Law Implementation Program (CLIP), and conduct of regular capacity building activities.

“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.

Cass-Gottlieb, for her part, congratulated the PCC for its remarkable achievements in promoting fair and competitive markets in the Philippines. “ACCC is proud to be a partner of PCC in advancing the common goals of consumer welfare and economic development,” she said.

She also expressed confidence that the MOU will foster closer and more productive collaboration between the two agencies.

The PCC is the Philippines’ primary competition authority mandated to enforce the Philippine Competition Act. The ACCC is Australia’s independent statutory authority that administers the Competition and Consumer Act of 2010.

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REFERENCE:
publicaffairs@phcc.gov.ph
PCC Public Affairs and Research Division

Link:https://www.phcc.gov.ph/press-releases/pcc-accc-sign-mou-to-strengthen-cooperation-on-competition-policy/