Don't you find it annoying that for many basic services in the Philippines, it seems that we are practically left to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea? For instance, it's either PAL or Cebu Pacificfor domestic air travel, Globe or Smart for telecommunications, Maynilad or Manila Water for water supply, and so on. Do you still remember the unfortunate acquisition of Uber that left many of its customers disgusted over Grab's take over? Did you know that BDO Unibank, Inc. became the largest bank in the Philippines after a series of acquisitions that included a merger with Equitable PCI Bank which, in turn, was also a product of the merger of Equitable Bank and PCI Bank?

The power to merge or consolidate with other corporations can be used to acquire competitors and monopolize the market. According to a recent World Bank Report, "the Philippine economy is more concentrated than other countries in the region, with a higher proportion of monopoly, duopoly, and oligopoly markets." The Report further stated that "limited competition in key economic sectors" hinders the "creation of more and better jobs and faster poverty alleviation". Highlights of the Report can be found here:https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/publication/fostering-competition-in-the-philippines-the-challenge-of-restrictive-regulation(Links to an external site.)

Fortunately, we now have a Philippine Competition Commission that reviews mergers that might result in monopolies. Read this short summary of the very first decision of the Commission prohibiting a proposed "merger to monopoly" -

https://phcc.gov.ph/press-releases/pcc-blocks-merger-to-monopoly-deal-between-urc-don-pedro-rhi-sugar-millers/(Links to an external site.)

What are your thou ghts on this?Should businesses be given full freedom to operate in a free market? Or should the government impose strict controls to protect the consuming public? Is it possible to strike a good balance between free enterprise and reasonable regulation?