Philippines building up expertise in competition regulation
Philippine Competition Commission is the country’s anti-trust regulator.
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Competition Commission has launched a specialized academic track and post-graduate certificate program on competition law.
The PCC entered into a partnership with the Legal Education Board (LEB) and the University of the Philippines College of Law Competition Law and Policy Program to develop the programs.
During the ceremonial signing on March 14, PCC Commissioner Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano highlighted the importance of the program in promoting fair market competition and ensuring that future legal professionals are well-equipped to handle complex competition cases.
“With globalization of trade, investments and services, competition law is a powerful tool to provide safeguards designed to protect consumer welfare at the same time foster a balanced, competitive and dynamic business environment,” Medrano said.
PCC Commissioner Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano
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LEB Chair Jason Barlis affirmed his organization’s commitment to enhance legal education by integrating competition law into academic curricula.
He emphasized how the initiative aligned with LEB’s broader efforts to equip future lawyers with specialized knowledge in emerging legal fields.
Legal education
The event is seen as a milestone in strengthening legal education and expertise on competition law in the Philippines.
Developed through extensive consultation with legal education institutions, the two academic programs align with the Philippine Competition Act and international best practices on competition law.
The specialized academic track under the juris doctor program includes a 12-unit curriculum focused on core competencies in competition law.
It covers essential topics such as anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance, merger control and the impact of emerging technologies on competition.
Post-grad
Meanwhile, the post-graduate certificate program is a 64-hour (16-week) intensive course designed for lawyers, economists, policymakers and other professionals seeking specialized training.
It delves into key areas such as anti-competitive practices, market monopolization, mergers and acquisitions, consumer protection, and regulatory enforcement.
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The program also follows a credential system that allows participants to gain credit for completed courses toward a Master of Laws degree.
