PCC warns rice traders against info sharing

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has warned rice importers against the sharing of sensitive commercial information, citing risks to fair market competition amid the imposition of a price cap on the staple food.

This was part of the dialogue of the PCC Competition Enforcement Office (CEO) with the Philippine Rice Importers’ Association (PRIA) last May 20, to align operations with Executive Order (EO) 118 and protect market competition.

Under EO 118 issued on May 13, the government set a nationwide price cap of P50 per kilogram on imported rice (five percent broken) for 30 days, unless earlier lifted by President Marcos.

The price cap was imposed to ensure that the staple remains affordable for consumers.

With the price ceiling seen to affect the entire supply chain, the PCC and PRIA’s discussions covered establishing a transparent and predictable framework to balance public welfare with market stability.

While enforcement actions are expected to deter violations, PCC CEO director Christian Loren de los Santos said that the competition authority is open to working with the industry to promote compliance with fair market principles.

The PCC CEO emphasized that market players need to make commercial decisions independently.

It warned against the exchange of sensitive commercial information such as price, quantity and import volume, as this could affect competition.

The PCC CEO also urged the PRIA to take active steps to ensure its members’ compliance with government policies and regulations.

For his part, PRIA president Raffy Herrera affirmed the group’s commitment to food security and stable rice supply.

PRIA also recommended the conduct of a similar dialogue by the PCC with retailer organizations to discuss logistics costs and align pricing structures.

The PCC said it is committed to partnering with industries to help market players navigate regulations.

“By engaging directly with critical food supply chains, the Commission balances supportive industry advocacy with steady enforcement to prevent market distortions, deter anti-competitive behavior and protect consumer welfare,” the PCC said.