PCC Public Advisory

 

System Maintenance Advisory: MAO E-Notification System

Please be advised that the MAO E-Notification System will undergo scheduled maintenance to implement system enhancements from 01 April to 06 April 2026. During this period, the system will be temporarily unavailable.

The last day for electronic submissions through the MAO E-Notification System will be on 31 March 2026 (5:00 PM).

If there are submissions due during the scheduled maintenance period, all concerned parties are advised to ensure the early submission of the necessary documents prior to the maintenance dates.

The enhanced MAO E-Notification System will resume normal operations on Tuesday, 07 April 2026.

For any questions or concerns, please contact the Mergers and Acquisitions Office via email at mergers@phcc.gov.ph or by telephone at +632 8771 9722 local 252.

Please be guided accordingly.

 

 

 

Advisory: LMS Rebranding to PCC eCLASS

In line with its rebranding efforts, PCC's Learning Management System (LMS), previously known as iCLP: Online Learning Hub on Competition Law and Policy, will now be called PCC eCLASS: Enhanced Competition Learning Activities Spaces.

Correspondingly, the platform’s domain name will be changed from iclp.phcc.gov.ph to eclass.phcc.gov.ph.

Please be advised that the LMS will be temporarily unavailable from March 27, 2026 (5:00 PM) to March 31, 2026 (11:59 PM) to facilitate this transition.

Beginning April 1, 2026, users may access PCC’s online courses through the new domain.

 

 

 

PCC Advisory: Trunkline Service Interruption

 

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/ 16th IGE focuses on merger control, new competition regimes

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L-R: MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS OFFICE DIRECTOR ATTY. KRYSTAL LYN T. UY; COMMISSIONER; AMABELLE C. ASUNCION; CHAIRMAN ARSENIO M. BALISACAN; CHIEF OF STAFF ATTY. MA. LEONILA P. PAPA
 

CHAIRMAN ARSENIO M. BALISACAN (THIRD FROM LEFT)
 

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) presented its experiences and learnings on merger review during the 16th Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Competition Law and Policy held in Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on July 5-7, 2017.

This year’s session centered around designs of merger control systems for small and young competition authorities, such as the PCC. “The design of a merger control regime should be adapted to the circumstances and needs of each jurisdiction. In the case of young and small competition authorities, it is also important to take into account financial and human resources constraints, lack of sufficient experience and lack of a competition culture,” said the IGE in a statement.

German cooperation agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) was highly instrumental in the inclusion of the PCC at the recent IGE meet.

In his presentation, PCC Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan focused on the lack of a culture of competition in the Philippines as one of the primary stumbling blocks in fully enforcing merger control specified in the Philippine Competition Act of 2015.

“The Commission has encountered resistance from regulated entities, especially with respect to the disclosure of sensitive information to the PCC and the Commission’s ability to maintain the confidentiality of certain information submitted in relation to merger or acquisition notifications,” said Balisacan.

“We believe that in order to instill a healthy culture of competition, trust is key. We aim to ingrain a rational, consistent, and dependable system—one that all stakeholders can trust. We know this can be achieved through our policy on confidentiality, the security of our files, and the professionalism of our staff,” the PCC Chairman added.

Aside from the Philippines, competition regimes from Paraguay, Albania, Botswana, Egypt, and Kenya also presented their experiences on merger control.

The annual IGE event was conceptualized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to discuss ways of improving worldwide cooperation on competition policy implementation and enhancing convergence through dialogue.

Chairman Balisacan was joined by Commissioner Amabelle C. Asuncion, Spokesperson Atty. Leni Papa, and Mergers and Acquisitions Director Krystal Lyn Uy-Sia during the proceedings.