The Guidelines on Developing Core Competencies in Competition Policy and Law for ASEAN (RCC Guidelines) were officially launched at the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC), chaired and hosted by the Department of Justice - Office for Competition (DOJ-OFC), on 25-26 March 2013 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Pasay City.

The RCC Guidelines are a major ASEAN publication containing the ASEAN Member States (AMSs)'s experiences and best practices intended for use by staff of competition agencies in AMSs, such as DOJ-OFC, in developing and strengthening their required core competencies. Three key competency areas are outlined in the Guidelines, namely: Institutional Building, Enforcement and Advocacy.

At the recently concluded 11th AEGC Meeting, the DOJ-OFC, as AEGC Chair, pushed for the launch of the Guidelines in view of the urgency to assess its suitability for and utilization by the intended end- users. This move was unanimously carried by the AMSs present at the Meeting.

"This publication is crucial to the realization of the ASEAN Economic Blueprint for economic integration by  2015," said Secretary Leila M. De Lima who officially welcomed the ASEAN delegates at the 11th AEGC Meeting.

"The OFC has contributed substantial inputs to the Guidelines since its inception," added Assistant Secretary Geronimo L. Sy.

The Guidelines aim to provide guidance to AMSs on their required core competencies in competition policy and law (CPL), to define recommended practices and to advice on the options to develop these competencies. They take into account the varying stages of CPL development in the AIMSs and, where appropriate, distinguish between a range of competencies and tools which are relevant at subsequent stages of development of a competition enforcement system.

The Guidelines provide advice and benchmarks that serve as a reference for AMSs in their efforts to increase their core competencies in CPL. They do not constitute legal advice nor are they intended to provide  a full or binding statement on what CPL core competencies are and how  these should be developed. It is generally understood that there are no "one-size-fits-all" solutions and AMSs should consider and choose what best suits their particular characteristics and needs.