Antitrust body fines 8990 Holdings

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has fined 8990 Holdings, Inc. and Urban Deca Homes Manila Condominium Corp. over P27 million for abusing their dominance when it entered into an exclusive internet service provider (ISP) arrangement.

The abuse of dominance case was prompted by complaints raised earlier this year by the tenants of Urban Deca Homes Manila, an 8990 Holdings low-cost condominium in Tondo, Manila, that they were barred from using other ISPs as the developer had an exclusive deal with ISP Itech Rar Solutions, Inc.

The company opted for a settlement, under which the company was ordered to break the exclusive deal, pay a fine of P27.11 million within 30 days, and comply with the modified terms and conditions of the settlement.

The PCC said that the modified terms of settlement will also apply to eight other Urban Deca projects in Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Bulacan, Cavite, Iloilo and Cebu.

“The condo developer should not limit the choices of residents for other services,” PCC Chair Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.

This marked the first abuse of market dominance case filed and resolved by the competition watchdog, three years since it was established.

“This is a landmark case for the PCC that successfully resolved to stop an anticompetitive practice, restore competition in the affected market, and set as example to deter other businesses from employing similar exclusive dealings,” he added.