NEDA's Balican resigns to head PHL Competition Commission

Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Arsenio M. Balisacan resigned effective January 31, 2016 to head the newly-formed Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).

The commission is a quasi-judicial body that will enforce and implement the provisions of the Philippine Competition Act, including its implementing rules and regulations, the National Economic Development Authority said on Monday.

"Through this, it will ensure an efficient market competition in providing a level-playing field among businesses engaged in trade, industry, and all commercial economic activities, NEDA said in an emailed statement.

“Taking on the job as the first chairperson of the PCC for me, is a very compelling challenge that is hard to ignore. I see this as both a great responsibility and another privilege to steer the economy toward the right direction to realize all its growth potential,” Balisacan said.

Malacañang, through Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, announced President Benigno Aquino III's appointment of Balisacan as Chairperson of the Philippine Competition Commission for a term of seven years.

According to Executive Secretary Ochoa, the following were also appointed as Commissioners: Stella Alabastro-Quimbo, Johannes Bernabe, Elcid Butuyan and Menardo Guevarra.

Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act, which President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law on July 21, 2015, created the PCC.

The commission aims to protect consumer welfare and advance both domestic, and international trade and economic development. Also, it has the mandate to conduct inquiries, investigate, and penalize all forms of anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, and anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions.

“We would want to address the problem of having a growing economy but with the benefits of such growth only for a small sector. Promoting fair and healthy competition among firms is a major factor in ensuring that the benefits of growth are properly shared,” Balisacan said.

As Socioeconomic Planning secretary and NEDA director-general since May 2012, Balisacan was the first chair of the Philippine Statistics Authority Board and the Public-Private Partnership Center Board.

Concurrently, he was chairman of the board for the Philippine Institute of Development Studies, Philippine Center for Economic Development, and the Philippine Statistical Research and the Training Institute.

Prior to his appointment to NEDA, Balisacan was dean and professor of the University of the Philippines School of Economics. He also served as the director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture or SEARCA from 2003 to 2009, and undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture in 2000, 2001, and 2003.
 
As a leading development economist in Asia, Balisacan is also bringing to PCC his expertise in development economics, international economics, and applied welfare economics.

He has been an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology since 2008 and an Adjunct Professor at the Australian National University since 2011.

Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra will serve as the NEDA officer-in-charge. – VS/NB, GMA News