17/08/2026
Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) Commissioner Marah Victoria Querol represented the Philippines at the United Nations UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 23rd Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Competition Law and Policy, held on July 8-10, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Philippines contributed to the discussion on capacity-building and technical assistance on competition law and policy. Highlighting the importance of strengthening PCC’s institutional capacity, Querol underscored PCC’s early collaborations with international counterparts and development partners in merger assessment, cartel detection, economic analysis, and competition advocacy. These strategic partnerships bolstered the Commission's expertise through policy consultations, staff training programs, workshops, study visits, short courses, secondments, participation in international conferences and fora, and specialized degree programs.
Building on this development, the PCC is transitioning toward organizing its own capacity-building activities and technical assistance, including virtual learning platforms, knowledge-sharing initiatives with partner government agencies, academic partnerships (such as with the Legal Education Board and the University of the Philippines College of Law), and its Mandatory Continuing Legal Education program on competition law.
The Philippines acknowledged the vital support of its multilateral and bilateral partners, including UNCTAD, International Competition Network, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, other competition authorities, academic institutions, and regional competition networks.
The Philippines also recognized the volume of work necessary to drive cross-border collaboration aimed at effectively dealing with restrictive business practices that affects international trade. Querol acknowledged the indispensable role of the private sector in this endeavor as she highlighted the biennial international forum organized by the PCC – also known as the Manila Forum on Competition in Developing Countries. The Manila Forum fosters dialogue among competition authorities, regulators, industry experts, policymakers, the academe, and the private sector on a range of issues, such as recent developments in the field of competition law.
Through active participation in these global discussions, the PCC continues to integrate international best practices into local market oversight, thereby promoting fair market competition and consumer welfare in the Philippines.
