THE local business group has asked the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to take a look at the operations of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), especially in Negros Occidental.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said the port is a vital component of connectivity, which is important for regional development.
Carbon, in a dialogue in the city recently, requested PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan to review the possible conflict of interest in the operations of PPA as service provider.
“They operate ports, regulate it, and set rates. All these three functions are a conflict of interest,” he said, adding that “the government should not compete with the private when the latter can take charge that kind of service or business activity.”
Balisacan said PCC works in coordination with other agencies. It does not have jurisdictions over other regulators.
In fact, the commission has no control over government agencies unless these are government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).
Balisacan said it does not mean that they do not address the issue.
“What the law says, the PCC can still provide advisory services to the government. This is what we are doing in the past two years already,” he said.
The commission has been calling the attention of the concerned agencies about any anti-competitive practices, its chairman said.
“We sit down with them, in some cases, our approach is to have a memorandum of agreement with them so that we can thresh out differences especially during conflicts in our respective mandates,” he added.
Other measure
Balisacan, who is the former director general of the National Economic Development Authority, said the commission is now undertaking an issue paper on domestic shipping.
Once it is completed, the PCC can then opt to undertake a motu propio review of a particular anti-competitive practice in the industry.
The understudy is being undertaken by the Philippines Institute for Development Studies, which is conducting consultations, interviews, and surveys.
“If this issue affects the private sector activities, the business group can file a verified complaint to PCC so that we can undertake necessary review or investigation,” Balisacan said.
The commission’s comments can then be brought to discussion with various levels, he added. (EPN)