The private sector is pushing for an easing of merger notification requirements for public-private partnership (PPP) projects, citing the need to accelerate infrastructure development, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said. The PCC had conducted focus group discussions among companies, regulators, and investment promotion agencies on the draft rules updating the process for exempting PPP projects, according to a report by BusinessWorld.
Under current rules, PPP projects that meet certain thresholds must undergo merger review, which stakeholders say can delay project timelines. The proposed easing would streamline the exemption process, allowing more PPP deals to proceed without prolonged antitrust scrutiny. The PCC aims to balance competition concerns with the need for faster infrastructure rollout.
The focus group discussions gathered input from various stakeholders, including private firms and government agencies, to refine the draft rules. The updated guidelines are expected to clarify which PPP projects qualify for automatic exemption and reduce regulatory burdens. The PCC has not yet announced a timeline for the final rules.