THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is partnering with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to strengthen competition in the data transmission industry.
On Sept. 19, the antitrust body said the agreement with NTC entails joint market monitoring, policy development, enforcement actions and capacity-building initiatives.
The two government agencies will develop protocols for information exchange, coordinate on merger reviews and investigations and form joint task forces as needed.
“By working together, we can safeguard the sector from the dangers of those that would seek to damage or monopolize telecommunications to the detriment of consumers,” PCC chair Michael Aguinaldo said.
“This agreement sets the stage for strong interagency collaboration and responsible data sharing, enabling us to fulfill our mandates and better serve Filipino consumers,” NTC Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez said.
The team up is in line with Section 18 of the Konektadong Pinoy Act. The law which requires both agencies to develop interagency cooperation mechanisms, including information-sharing tools. This is to ensure effective enforcement and uphold the principles of fair competition in the sector.
The Konektadong Pinoy aims to address roadblocks by streamlining the licensing process and promoting infrastructure sharing.
The PCC said it is working closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, NTC, and other stakeholders to help craft the law’s implementing rules and regulations. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
