PCC BACKS DTI MOVE TO DEREGULATE SRP

PCC Chairman Arsenio Balisacan issues statement after Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says his office is mulling the deregulation of determining suggested retail prices.

When prices move, we must assess if the movement is due to certain changes in the market. PCC CHAIRMAN ARSENIO BALISACAN

The Philippine Competition Commission said Wednesday it supports the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) plan to deregulate the prices of consumer products.

In a statement, PCC Chairman Arsenio Balisacan said that for the longest time, the DTI, through the National Price Coordinating Council, has been setting prices that guide both consumers and suppliers.

“But now that we have the Philippine Competition Act, we support DTI in its efforts to promote industry efficiency and consumer welfare by allowing market forces to dictate the prices of goods instead of issuing suggested retail prices or SRPs,” he said.

The Philippine Competition Act prohibits businesses from collectively fixing, directly or indirectly, purchase or selling prices or imposing other trading conditions that substantially prevent, restrict, or lessen competition.

The current practice of approving SRPs may potentially be an anti-competition act that needs to be studied considering the nature, conduct or performance of each industry as well as other factors affecting the prices of goods and services, PCC said.

PCC will look into price movements whether they are simply reflecting basic supply and demand forces or if they are reflecting anti-competitive practices.

“When prices move, we must assess if the movement is due to certain changes in the market, say, changes of condition of inputs, or if the movement reflects collectively organized or coordinated efforts like collusions or cartels,” Balisacan said.

In developing a culture of competition, the antitrust authority is looking forward to forging a partnership with DTI, aside from other regulatory agencies in pursuit of its mandate.

“The PCC and DTI are in the process of drafting a memorandum of agreement toward a partnership leading to effective enforcement of the competition policy, thereby advancing consumer welfare,” he said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier said his office was mulling to “deregulate” the SRP scheme, and allow market forces to determine prices of basic necessities and prime commodities.