MANILA, July 21 (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law on Tuesday two landmark bills aimed at promoting trade and fair competition.
The President signed Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act, and Republic Act No. 10668 or Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act before government officials and businessmen at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang.
In his speech, President Aquino noted the importance of the Philippine Competition Act and the amendments to the Cabotage Law, which were among the priority measures in the Congress.
“Sa pagsasabatas nga po ng Philippine Competition Act, naisusulong ang kompetisyon sa merkado. Ngayon, sa wakas, maliit man o malaki ang negosyo, ang labanan ay nasa paglalabas ng de-kalidad na produkto sa pinakamakatuwirang presyo, imbes na under the table o ang paramihan ng kuneksiyon. Dito, makakamit natin ang punto kung saan ang mamimili, mas totoo ang presyong binabayaran, ‘yung nagbebenta naman, nahihikayat na pahusayin pa ang kanilang serbisyo. Sa dulo, lahat nakikinabang, lahat panalo,” he said about the bill that was ratified by Congress after 25 years.
“Ganyan din po ang prinsipyong itinataguyod natin sa pagpirma sa Liberalization of Philippine Cabotage. Itong Cabotage Law na ito ay hango pa sa Tariff and Customs Code of 1978, at ngayon nga lang naibabagay sa ating mga pangangailangan. Nagsimula nga po siguro ang batas na ito para maengganyong mapaunlad ang ating shipping industry, at magkaroon ng kakayahang makipagsabayan. Ang problema, kakarampot ang dumadagdag na mga barko natin na nagresulta sa absurdong sitwasyon kung saan kontrolado ng iilan lang ang takbo ng merkado. Kaya nga po, dumating na tayo sa panahong kailangan na nating baguhin ang sistemang nakagawian,” the President explained.
“Sa mga amyenda po ninyo, malayang makakapagkalakal ang mga banyagang barko ng kanilang imported at exported na kargamento sa kanilang napiling port of destination. Dahil dito, mapapadali at mapapamura ang export at import ng mga produkto, na magbubunsod ng mas masiglang merkado. Talagang nakakatipid ang lahat ng stakeholders, mula sa mga mamimili hanggang sa mga negosyante,” he further said.
The Philippine Competition Act aims to enhance economic proficiency and promote free and fair competition in trade, industry and all commercial economic activities.
It seeks to prevent economic concentration, which will control the production, distribution, trade or industry that will unduly stifle competition, distort, manipulate or constrict the discipline of free markets; and penalize all forms of anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position and anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions, with the objective of protecting consumer welfare and advancing domestic and international trade and economic development.
Under the law, a Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) will be established, with the President appointing a chairperson, four commissioners and an executive director.
The PCC can impose administrative fines of P100 million in the first offense and P250 million for the second offense for abuse of dominant position and prohibited merger.
The law also prohibits agreements, between and among competitors, which have the object or effect of substantially preventing, restricting or lessening competition.
The Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act, on the other hand, allows foreign vessels to transport and co-load foreign cargoes for domestic transshipment.
It aims to assist importers and exporters in enhancing their competitiveness in the light of intensifying international trade and to lower the cost of shipping export cargoes from Philippine ports to international ports and import cargoes from international ports.
Under the law, a foreign vessel arriving from a foreign port would be allowed to carry a foreign cargo to its domestic port of final destination, after being cleared at the port of entry. The foreign vessel will also be allowed to carry foreign cargo by another foreign vessel calling at the same port of entry to the Philippine port of final destination of such foreign cargo.
For a foreign vessel departing from a Philippine port of origin through another local port, it would be allowed to carry foreign cargo intended for export.
The foreign vessel will also be allowed to carry foreign cargo by another foreign vessel through a domestic trans-shipment port and transferred at such domestic trans-shipment port to its foreign port of final destination.
An empty foreign container van going to or coming from any domestic port, or going to or coming from a foreign port, and being transshipped between two domestic ports will be allowed.
Present during the event were Senate President Franklin Drilon, House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales Jr., Senators Cynthia Villar and Vicente Sotto III, House Committee on Trade and Industry chairperson Rep. Mark Villar, and House Committee on Economic Affairs senior vice chairperson Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua.
Also in attendance were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Trade and Industry Gregory Domingo, Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. (PNA)