PRESS RELEASE
15 May 2025

PCC bags international award for anti-bid rigging effort

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) was chosen as one of the winners of the 2025 International Competition Network (ICN) and World Bank Group (WBG) Competition Advocacy Contest for its three-pronged approach to detecting bid rigging in public procurement.

The award was announced during the 24th ICN Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland on May 9 (Manila time).

Bid rigging, illegal under the Philippine Competition Act (PCA) or Republic Act No. 10667, occurs when competitors collude to manipulate bidding processes for illicit gain.

Recognizing the need to proactively identify potential cartels instead of relying solely on public complaints, the PCC has combined advocacy and key partnerships with other government agencies, alongside the development of the Bid Rigging Screening Tool (BiRST). This tool analyzes publicly available procurement data, with its development drawing inspiration from screening tools employed by other international competition agencies.

“This award validates our commitment to combating bid rigging, a practice that diverts public funds, harms consumers, and erodes trust in governance. It highlights the global relevance of proactive antitrust measures in protecting public welfare,” PCC Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo said.

BiRST was soft-launched in 2023, initiating engagement with key government agencies and stakeholders. This included capacity building sessions for officials across auditing, justice, budget, and procurement sectors. The system's capabilities were also shared with the international competition community, including at the 2023 Competition Enforcers and Academics Summit in Hong Kong. Building on these initial engagements, a pilot test of BiRST is scheduled for this year.

As the Philippines’ antitrust authority, the PCC enforces the PCA to curb anti-competitive business practices, ensuring market fairness and promotion of consumer welfare. 

###

REFERENCE:
publicaffairs@phcc.gov.ph
Public Affairs and Research Division
Communications and Knowledge Management Office
Philippine Competition Commission

LINK: https://www.phcc.gov.ph/resource-details/pcc-bags-international-award-for-anti-bid-rigging-effort