PRESS RELEASE
9 May 2024

PCC shares post-pandemic enforcement strategies at ABA Antitrust Law Spring Meeting

PCC Competition Enforcement Office Director Christian B. De Los Santos (right) participates in a panel session titled “Asia-Pacific Enforcers: Post-Pandemic Update” during the American Bar Association (ABA) 72nd Antitrust Law Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C. Courtesy of American Bar Association

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) participated in a panel session alongside competition enforcers from across the Asia-Pacific to share post-pandemic developments at the recent American Bar Association (ABA) 72nd Antitrust Law Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Representing the PCC for the three-day event were Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, Commissioner Michael B. Peloton, and Enforcement Office Director Christian B. De Los Santos.

During the “Asia-Pacific Enforcers: Post-Pandemic Update” session, De Los Santos joined counterparts from China, Hong Kong, and Japan in sharing insights and strategies on navigating enforcement challenges in the wake of the pandemic.

Addressing an audience of antitrust practitioners and enforcers, De Los Santos shared that the PCC prioritized high-impact cases and encouraged the use of non-adversarial remedies such as show cause orders and voluntary commitments.

To keep pace with market developments, the PCC issued the Guidelines for the Motu Proprio Review of Mergers and Acquisitions in Digital Markets and the Guidelines for Non-horizontal Merger Review, De Los Santos said. He noted that the PCC had increased the thresholds for transactions that would undergo mandatory merger review based on the Philippines’ post-pandemic nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

De Los Santos also discussed the PCC’s efforts to foster cooperation and coordination with other ASEAN Member States, which include the ongoing development of a Merger Information Sharing Portal.

Joining De Los Santos on the panel were Xu Lefu, director general of the Antitrust Enforcement Department II of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation; Samuel Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Competition Commission; and Reiko Aoki, commissioner at the Japan Fair Trade Commission. The panel was moderated by antitrust practitioner Brent Snyder of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati.

The 72nd ABA Spring Meeting, which ran from April 10-12, is the world’s largest gathering of competition, consumer protection, and data privacy professionals.

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REFERENCE:
publicaffairs@phcc.gov.ph
PCC Public Affairs and Research Division