NATIONAL ECONOMIC and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said anti-trust legislation will be crucial in ensuring food security.
“We must complement antitrust tools with strategies to address structural issues that shape firm behavior in the agriculture sector and related industries,” Mr. Balisacan, a former competition commissioner, said in his speech at the 2025 Manila Forum on Competition in Developing Countries.
“Pro-competitive legislation, policies, regulations, and programs or projects can contribute toward safeguarding consumers and producers from uncompetitive and unfair conduct,” he added.
However, Mr. Balisacan said competition policy is not a universal solution, though it can promote efficiency and resilience.
He also cited recent government efforts to control food inflation, such as lowering the rice tariffs and removing non-tariff barriers “encourage market players to augment the food supply.”
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that headline inflation rose 2.9% year on year in January, matching the December print.
Food inflation accelerated to 4% from 3.5% in December and 3.3% in 2024.
The PSA said tomato price growth accelerated to 155.7% from 120.8% a month earlier.
“Together, let us work for fairer markets and amplify the pivotal role of competition in this important sector as we collectively aspire for food security and shared prosperity for all,” Mr. Balisacan said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante