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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider IRRI, PCC ink deal to modernize rice industry oversight

IRRI, PCC ink deal to modernize rice industry oversight

Published Jan 26, 2026 10:27 pm
(Left foreground) PCC chairperson Michael Aguinaldo and IRRI Director General Yvonne Pinto (PCC photo)
(Left foreground) PCC chairperson Michael Aguinaldo and IRRI Director General Yvonne Pinto (PCC photo)
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is joining forces with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to promote fair competition and sustainable development in the rice sector.
In a statement, the PCC said it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the IRRI to formalize a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing competition in the industry that produces the country’s most important staple.
Signed by PCC chairperson Michael Aguinaldo and IRRI Director General Yvonne Pinto, the MOA aims to strengthen institutional collaboration, technical knowledge sharing, and capability enhancement between the two institutions.
Under the agreement, both PCC and IRRI agreed to promote inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience in the rice sector.
They will accomplish these goals through coordinated efforts in research, enforcement, and advocacy.
Specifically, PCC and IRRI will collaborate on initiatives to advance institutional development and sectoral reform, including technical cooperation in rice science and data analytics to support market studies and policy development.
The MOA will also serve as platform for exchanging information to aid the PCC in its enforcement of the Philippine Competition Act (PCA) and other competition-related laws.
As part of the agreement, both parties also agreed to provide mutual support in developing projects and mobilizing resources to advance shared objectives.
“This collaboration underscores our common objective of improving outcomes across the rice value chain,” said Aguinaldo.
“By exchanging knowledge, strengthening institutional capacity, and supporting joint research and market studies, the PCC and IRRI can better identify barriers to competition, promote efficiency, and encourage innovation in the industry”, he added.
For her part, Pinto said leveraging the shared expertise of the two institutions will help better align the rice sector with efforts to support farmers.
“This collaboration allows us to connect data, science, and market intelligence with policy and regulatory perspectives, supporting fair competition, economic sustainability, and inclusive growth in the rice sector,” she said.
The PCC said the partnership with IRRI is part of its broader advocacy to engage with sectoral experts and institutions to promote a culture of competition among key industries.
Earlier, the commission partnered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to promote fair competition in the country’s land public transportation system.
Under the PCA, the PCC is mandated to promote fair competition and prevent anti-competitive conduct.
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