PCC takes part in UN competition conference

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) participated in the 9th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection held from 7-11 July in Geneva, Switzerland, reinforcing its commitment to aligning Philippine regulatory practices with international standards.

The high-level multilateral gathering, organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), brought together ministers and officials from competition and consumer protection authorities across the globe. Discussions focused on strengthening enforcement, encouraging policy reforms, and advancing sustainable development goals through fair and open markets.

As part of the Philippine delegation, PCC Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo was elected as one of the Vice-Presidents of the conference. On the fourth day, Aguinaldo moderated two key sessions — one on implementing cross-border consumer dispute resolution mechanisms and another on the use of investigative techniques and digital tools in modern competition enforcement.

PCC Commissioner Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano also attended the event, following her participation in the UNCTAD 22nd Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy, which helped lay the groundwork for the conference agenda.

"The PCC’s participation in the 9th UN conference underscores its commitment to adopting global best practices and contributing to the development of robust regulatory frameworks," the agency said in a statement. "As the country's lead antitrust agency, the PCC enforces the Philippine Competition Act (PCA) to promote fair competition and protect consumer welfare, and represents the Philippine government in international competition matters."