Competition regulator to seek information sharing with privacy commission

THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it seek to achieve more seamless information sharing with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) within the constraints of strict privacy laws.

“I was discussing with NPC Chairman (Raymund E.) Liboro for possible coordination [under a] memo of agreement (MoA) and see how to address issues on privacy and competition. We are very interested because of its application in competition enforcements,” Competition Commission Chair Arsenio M. Balisacan told reporters in Quezon City.

Mr. Balisacan said the Philippine Competition Act of 2015 has strict provisions on the enforcement of the rules on confidentiality that prevent the PCC from discussing with other agencies details of transactions that might impact their operations.

“We want to look at how we can share information that will not violate law on privacy, laws on competition. There may be some way that we can access data that can help us in our review of competition cases, or forthcoming transactions,” Mr. Balisacan added.

Asked for details, the PCC chair said the discussions are “still fluid at this time.”

The PCC is also slated to sign this month a MoA with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strengthen information-sharing.

In January, the PCC said it received 162 inquiries and informal complaints on possible anticompetitive activities.

It has opened 12 preliminary inquiries, of which four are based on verified complaints while eight were initiated motu proprio by the commission.—