The Department of Justice – Office for Competition (DOJ-OFC) successfully concluded the workshop entitled “Theory of Competition Law, Case Handling and Investigative Technique” at the Bohol Beach Club in Panglao Island, Bohol last March 6-10, 2012.
Held in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the participants which include members of the Office for Competition and representatives from the different sector regulators were briefed by the Filipino speakers, Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and Dr. Ma. Joy Abrenica of the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE), on the basics of competition laws and policy, the need for a competition law and its effect on the economy.
On the other hand, speakers from the Japanese academe separately discoursed on the Regulation of Private Monopolies, Unfair Trade Practices, Cartels and Mergers including a group exercise on how to prove Implicit Cartels while the experts from the Japan Fair Trade Commission lectured on the basics of competition law, presented the practical aspect of investigation with focus on the procedure followed by the JFTC and introduced to the participants the International Competition Network (ICN) Work Products particularly the “Anti-Cartel Enforcement Manual”.
The workshop was a learning opportunity for all of the participants. Not only were the basics of competition law and policy in the Philippines discussed but first-hand accounts of Japanese experience in enforcing competition policy and law were highlighted.
The workshop ended with Mr. Kazushi Suzuki of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) praising the activity as one of the best organized projects in partnership with JICA organized in the Philippines.
Prof. Aya Baba of Tezukayama University; Prof. Goro Sato of Okayama University School of Law; and Prof. Iwakazu Takahashi, Ph.D. of Meiji University, Tokyo Japan
Mr. Yukinari Sugiyama, Director, International Affairs Division, JFTC; Mr. Hiroyuki Yamashita, Deputy Director, International Affairs Division, JFTC; and Ms. Ritsuko Okada, Section Chief, International Affairs Division, JFTC.
