The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation, Inc. (UPPAF), lead implementing organization for the Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development (RESPOND), entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for competition reforms and intensify the enforcement of the Philippine Competition Act (PCA).
The MOU signing was held at the DOJ Main Building, Padre Faura Street, Manila last Friday, 24 February 2023. In attendance were Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, DOJ Undersecretary Geronimo L. Sy and UPPAF RESPOND Chief of Party Dr. Enrico L. Basilio, plus U.S Agency for International Development-Office of Economic Development and Governance (USAID-OEDG) Project Management Specialist Emil Francis De Quiros, as well as representatives from the Office for Competition (OFC) and UPPAF RESPOND.
This MOU is but an initial step brought about by the collaboration between the DOJ-OFC and UPPAF RESPOND and spearheaded by Undersecretary Sy and Dr. Enrico L. Basilio. This alliance endeavors to develop a feasible competition work plan to address the increasing complexity and incidence of collusive conduct at various levels of the supply chain, as well as to strengthen the institutional capacity of the OFC.