Former Senate President and returning senatorial candidate Juan Ponce Enrile vowed to scrutinize “watered down” laws to protect consumers and thereby drive down the high prices of goods that continue to burden Filipinos.
“I am against monopolies. I am against cartelization,” the four-term senator said in an interview.
As the first legislator to introduce the anti-trust law in the Philippines, Enrile said he had already pushed for consumer protection in his previous Senate term.
“That is why I filed an anti-trust law. I drafted it myself, combining the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the Clayton Act and all the anti-trust, anti-monopoly laws of the United States. I improved on what the United States has,” Enrile shared.
Enrile cited that what is now known as Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act is a “watered down” version of his original proposal.
“Now, it cannot work. We have to go back and refine the law. I will review that again to see whether it is effective as a protection for the consumers of the country,” Enrile said, adding:
“I am going to see to it that the consumers are protected.”
Among the industries which he plans to focus on are electricity and telecommunications, two sectors which he had already scrutinized in his previous terms as senator and Senate president.
“We have to review the cost of electricity especially the cost of generation,” Enrile shared.
The lawmaker also hit at the “very inefficient and very inexpensive” telecommunications system which continues to burden Filipinos with slow speeds and high subscription costs.
“We will have to exercise legislative power [to address these problems]. [We can do that through] inquiries in aid of legislation,” Enrile pointed out.