Philippine Competition Commission chief Emerson Aquende (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) on Thursday urged Bicolano farmers to report any prohibited or “anti-competitive” conduct by businesses after putting up its “i-station” or investigation station here.
In an interview, PCC Commissioner Emerson Aquende said with the new i-station in the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Bicol office, they expect increased awareness of how the competition law can help the public in promoting sound business competition and eliminate any anti-competitive concerns and conducts.
"We also want especially here in the Bicol Region, (we are very interested) to monitor the situation as far as the agricultural sector is concerned because we all know, many of our farmers are disadvantaged and do not have the position to be able to market their products or to negotiate with the buyers of their products," Aquende said.
He added that among the concerns the PCC wants to address in the agricultural sector are the farmers’ constraints because of loans, the necessity to immediately dispose of their products because of its life span, and sometimes, the middlemen or "viajeros" that buy their products at a very low price.
Aquende also asked for the help of the media in bringing the information to the rural areas where many farmers lack awareness about PCC and unfair competition so that they will be mindful that there is an agency in the government that they can go to protect them from abuse of dominance practices.
He added that their office addresses the needs of the public in different regions by putting up hub stations.
"This is the second station that we put up in the country, the first in Baguio City. PCC will also expand its office this year by putting up investigation hubs in Cebu and Davao. PCC as a quasi-judicial body can investigate business practices and has the power to issue “cease and desist orders and can impose fines ranging from PHP 110-million," he said.
He said a multi-sectoral forum will be held to let the business sector understand the competitive law and make consumers become aware of ways to be protected.
Aquende said the PCC has recorded numerous business violators that have been penalized. (PNA)
