The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has adopted new rules requiring electronic filing of documents and setting procedures for videoconferencing in cases and other proceedings before the antitrust regulator.
The guidelines, issued under Commission Resolution No. 11-2026 and Memorandum Circular No. 26-003, will take effect on Oct. 3, 2026.
Under the new framework, parties must submit official filings electronically through designated online facilities and official email channels.
However, electronic filing will not completely replace paper submissions, as corresponding hard copies must still be filed in person within the prescribed period.
The rules prescribe standardized requirements for electronic filings, including document formats and verification procedures.
The PCC will also allow proceedings to be conducted through videoconferencing, either on the commission’s own determination or upon the motion of a party. The Competition Enforcement Office and Mergers and Acquisitions Office (MAO) may observe videoconference proceedings.
PCC offices may use Microsoft Teams or equivalent platforms for interviews and meetings. The guidelines specifically prohibit participants from using artificial intelligence accounts during these online sessions.
Pre-notification consultations with the MAO, which handles merger reviews, may also be conducted online at the request of a party.
The PCC said the shift is intended to reduce procedural delays and improve access to its processes while retaining safeguards for official submissions.
“By digitalizing its administrative processes, the PCC advances its statutory mandate to enforce the Philippine Competition Act with greater speed, rigor, and accessibility,” the agency said.
The digital procedures will apply to the PCC’s work involving competition enforcement and merger reviews, although the continued requirement for physical copies means parties will still have to make both electronic and paper submissions for official filings.
