The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines Inc. (IEMOP) have signed an agreement to strengthen oversight of the country’s electricity sector through the regular sharing of market data and intelligence.
The memorandum of agreement, signed on June 9, gives the PCC access to periodic market reports and other relevant information from IEMOP, enhancing the competition watchdog’s ability to detect anti-competitive behavior and monitor developments in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
The partnership comes as regulators intensify efforts to promote transparency, improve market efficiency, and ensure fair competition in the power industry, a sector critical to economic growth and consumer welfare.
Under the agreement, the two agencies will establish a formal framework for information exchange, technical collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving regulatory coordination.
PCC Executive Director Kenneth Tanate said the arrangement would provide a more systematic approach to monitoring market behavior and enforcing the Philippine Competition Act.
“This framework allows us to work together more systematically in monitoring the electric power sector,” Tanate said. “The exchange of market intelligence and technical expertise will strengthen oversight and support a stable market environment.”
For the PCC, regular access to electricity market data will help identify potential competition issues and assess market conduct more effectively. IEMOP, meanwhile, will receive technical guidance in recognizing trading patterns or practices that may require closer regulatory scrutiny.
The agreement also calls for regular consultative meetings, joint training programs, and knowledge-sharing activities involving personnel from both institutions and participants in the WESM.
Signed by Tanate and IEMOP President and Chief Executive Officer Robinson Descanzo, the pact is expected to improve regulatory visibility across the power sector and strengthen enforcement against practices that could distort competition.
Officials said the collaboration marks a significant step toward a more transparent and competitive electricity market, helping ensure efficient power pricing and a level playing field for industry participants nationwide.
