The importance of a valid certificate of candidacy rests at the very core of the electoral process. (Bautista vs. Comelec, G.R. No. 154796, 23 October 2003) As such, a person with a cancelled certificate is no candidate at all. The evident purposes of the law in requiring the filling of certificates of candidacy and in […]
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Antitrust/ Competition Law: Investigation of Administrative Cases involving Anti-Competitive Conduct before the Philippine Competition Commission* The Philippine Competition Commission (“PCC”) shall have original and primary jurisdiction over the enforcement and implementation of Republic Act No. 10667, otherwise known as the Philippine Competition Act (“PCA”).[i] It has the power to conduct inquiries and investigate, upon […]
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Antitrust/ Competition Law: Relevant Product Market and the Hypothetical Monopolist Test* Market definition is usually the first step in competition analysis because the concepts that will be used in the analysis occur in the market (i.e. market power, competition, statutory restrictions, etc.). Furthermore, defining the market is relevant in calculating and determining variables such […]
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Antitrust/ Competition Law: Vertical Restraints and Exclusive Dealing* A vertical agreement is an agreement or concerted practice entered into between two or more undertakings each of which operates, for the purposes of the agreement or the concerted practice, at a different level of the production or distribution chain, and relating to the conditions […]
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Antitrust/ Competition Law: Abuse of Dominant Position in Light of Tying Arrangements or Tie-in Sales* Have you ever experienced a situation wherein your purchase of one product requires you to buy another product? This practice may be classified as a tying arrangement or a tie-in sale which may be considered a violation of Republic […]
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The Social Security System (SSS) recently issued a reminder/notice to all employers of the current SSS Condonation Program and the fast approaching deadline, to avail of the program. Under the law, a penalty of three percent (3%) per month is assessed on unremitted contributions. This penalty continues to accrue and to compound, from the date […]
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The Philippine government has recently passed Republic Act 11261, also known as the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act. Passed primarily for the benefit of a first time jobseeker, the hopeful applicant, who is applying for his or her first job, will be exempted from payment of fees or charges which may be assessed by local […]
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Green energy advocates and conservationists, rejoice! Republic Act No. 11285 (RA 11285), otherwise known as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, is now binding law in the Philippines. With RA 11285, energy conservation and efficiency are no longer terms within the realm of policy statements. Energy conservation and efficiency have become mandatory, under pain of […]
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Red-ribbon documents are now a thing of the past. Beginning May 14, 2019, the Philippine Government will now accept apostilled (or apostillized) documents as a replacement for legalization or consular authentication with the Philippine Embassy. May 14, 2019 is the official date when the Philippines accedes to the Apostille Convention. Beginning this date, the Philippines […]
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Republic Act No. 11199, otherwise known as the Social Security Act of 2018, expressly repealed Republic Act No. 1161 (the old Social Security Law) and Republic Act No. 8282 (amending the old previous Social Security Law). Signed into law on 07 February 2019, the new charter of the Social Security System took effect on 05 […]
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