1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
Introduced by Representative KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 8479, or the Downstream Oil Deregulation Act of 1998, was enacted 
with the goal of promoting a competitive market, ensuring continuous and affordable supply 
of petroleum products, and encouraging private sector participation in the downstream oil 
industry. However, more than two decades since its passage, significant gaps remain in its 
regulatory and enforcement framework, particularly in the areas of competition policy, 
consumer protection, and price stabilization during periods of global market volatility. 
The following measure abolishes the DOE-DOJ Task force and consolidates its 
emergency powers in the Department of Energy (DOE). It also mandates both the Philippine 
Competition Commission (PCC), in coordination with the DOE and the Department of Trade 
and Industry (DTI) to promote fair trade practices. The PCC will be playing a major role in 
further strengthening the government’s capability to enforce antitrust safeguards as it is 
mandated to crack down on any form of anticompetitive behavior, including all instances of 
cartel and monopolistic conduct, as well as predatory pricing. Finally, it confers upon the 
President the authority to suspend or reduce excise taxes on fuel, to ensure continuous and 
affordable supply of petroleum products. 
Overall, this measure strengthens the government’s ability to protect consumers, 
ensures fair competition in the downstream oil industry, rationalizes the roles of regulatory 
agencies, and provides the Executive with a calibrated mechanism to address extraordinary oil 
price increases. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
DEPUTY SPEAKER KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN 
1 
2nd DISTRICT ILOCOS SUR 
2 
September 2, 2025
6:13 pm
4301


2 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
Introduced by Representative KRISTINE SINGSON-MEEHAN 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8479, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"DOWNSTREAM OIL DEREGULATION ACT OF 1998" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled. 
3 
CHAPTER I 
4 
5 
TITLE AND DECLARATION OF POLICY 
6 
7 
SEC. 1. Abolishing the DOE-DOJ Task Force. - Section 14 of Republic Act No. 8479 is 
8 
hereby amended as follows: 
9 
10 
''Section 14. Monitoring. – 
11 
12 
(a) XXX
13 
(b) XXX
14 
(c) XXX
15 
16 
[(d) Any report from any person of an unreasonable rise in the prices of petroleum 
17 
products shall be immediately acted upon. For this purpose, the creation of the DOE-DOJ 
18 
Task Force is hereby mandated to determine within thirty (30) days the merits of the 
19 
report and initiate the necessary actions warranted under the circumstance: Provided, 
20 
That nothing herein shall prevent the said task force from investigating and/or filing the 
21 
necessary complaint with the proper court or agency motu propio. 
22 
23 
Upon the effectivity of this Act, the Secretaries of Energy and Justice shall jointly appoint 
24 
the members of a committee who shall be tasked with the drafting of the rules and 
25 
guidelines to be adopted by the Task Force in the performance of its duty. These 
26 
guidelines shall ensure the efficiency, promptness, and effectiveness in the handling of 
27 
its cases. The Task Force shall be organized and its members appointed within one (1) 
28 
month from the effectivity of this Act.] 
29 
30 
4301


3 
 
(D) In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the DOE may, 
31 
during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over 
32 
or direct the operation of any person or entity engaged in the Industry.'' 
33 
 
34 
SEC. 2. Rationalizing the Roles of Agencies in the Promotion of Fair Trade Practices. - 
35 
Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8479 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
36 
 
37 
"Section 
7. 
Promotion 
of 
Fair 
Trade 
Practices. 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
38 
COMPETITION COMMISSION (PCC), IN COORDINATION WITH T[T]he 
39 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DOE, SHALL ENSURE THAT THE 
40 
PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES ON FAIR MARKET COMPETITION 
41 
ENSHRINED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10667, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
42 
THE PHILIPPINE COMPETITION ACT, ARE STRICTLY ADHERED TO IN 
43 
THE DOWNSTREAM OIL INDUSTRY. [shall take all measures to promote fair 
44 
trade and prevent cartelization, monopolies, combinations in restraint of trade, and any 
45 
unfair competition in the Industry as defined in Article 186 of the Revised Penal Code, 
46 
and Articles 168 and 169-of Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the 
47 
"Intellectual Property Law"] The DOE shall continue to encourage certain practices in the 
48 
industry which serve the public interest and are intended to achieve efficiency and cost 
49 
reduction, ensure continuous supply of petroleum products, and enhance environmental 
50 
protection. These practices may include borrow-and-loan agreements, rationalized depot and 
51 
manufacturing operations, hospitality agreements, joint tanker and pipeline utilization, and joint 
52 
actions on spill control and fire prevention.  
53 
XXX" 
54 
 
55 
SEC. 3. Strengthening of Government's Capability to Enforce Antitrust Safeguards. - 
56 
Section 11 of Republic Act No. 8479 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
57 
Section 11. Anti-Trust Safeguards. - To ensure fair competition [and prevent cartels 
58 
and monopolies in the Industry, the following acts are hereby prohibited:] IN THE 
59 
DOWNSTREAM OIL INDUSTRY, ANY FORM OF ANTICOMPETITIVE 
60 
BEHAVIOR, 
INCLUDING 
ALL 
INSTANCES 
OF 
CARTEL 
AND 
61 
MONOPOLISTIC CONDUCT, SHALL BE DEALT WITH IN ACCORDANCE 
62 
WITH THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10667, 
63 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE COMPETITION ACT.  
64 
 
65 
[(a)Cartelization which means any agreement, combination or concerted action by 
66 
refiners, importers and/or dealers, or their representatives, to fix prices, restrict outputs 
67 
or divide markets, either by products or by areas, or allocate markets, either by products 
68 
or by areas, in restraint of trade or free competition, including any contractual stipulation 
69 
which prescribes pricing levels and profit margins;]  
70 
 
71 
[b]FURTHER, IT IS HEREBY PROHIBITED TO ENGAGE IN THE ACT OF 
72 
PPredatory pricing, which means selling or offering to sell any oil product at a price 
73 
below the seller's or offeror's average variable cost for the purpose of destroying 
74 
competition, eliminating a competitor or discouraging a potential competitor from 
75 
entering the market: Provided, however, That pricing below average variable cost in 
76 
order to match the lower price of the competitor and not for the purpose of destroying 
77 
competition shall not be deemed predatory pricing. For purposes of this provision, 
78 
"variable cost" as distinguished from "fixed cost", refers to costs such as utilities or raw 
79 
materials, which vary as the output increases or decreases and "average variable cost" 
80 
refers to the sum of all variable costs divided by the number of units of outputs. ANY 
81 


4 
 
VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION SHALL BE REFERRED TO THE 
82 
PHILIPPINE COMPETITION COMMISSION. 
83 
 
84 
Any person, including but not limited to the chief operating officer, chief executive 
85 
officer or chief finance officer of the partnership, corporation or any entity involved, who 
86 
is found guilty of ENGAGING IN PREDATORY PRICING, AS DEFINED IN THIS 
87 
ACT, SHALL SUFFER THE PENALTIES PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE PCA. 
88 
[any of the said prohibited acts shall suffer the penalty of three (3) to seven (7) years 
89 
imprisonment, and a fine ranging from One million pesos (P 1,000,0000.00) to Two 
90 
million pesos (P 2,000,000.00).]" 
91 
 
92 
SEC. 4. Rationalizing Remedies for Violation of Fair Trade Rules – Section 13 of Republic 
93 
Act No. 8479 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
94 
 
95 
"Section 13. Remedies. (a) Government Action. W[W]henever it is determined by the 
96 
PHILIPPINE COMPETITION COMMISSION [Joint Task Force created under 
97 
Section 14 (d) of this Act,] THAT there is a threatened or imminent or actual violation 
98 
of Section 11 of this Act, it shall direct the provincial or city prosecutors having 
99 
jurisdiction to institute an action to prevent or restrain such violation with the Regional 
100 
Trial Court of the place where the defendants reside or has his place of business. Pending 
101 
hearing of the complaint and before final judgment, the court may at any time issue a 
102 
temporary restraining order or an injunction as shall be deemed just within the premises, 
103 
under the same conditions and principles as injunctive relief is granted under the Rules 
104 
of Court.  
105 
 
106 
Whenever it is determined by the PHILIPPINE COMPETITION COMMISSION 
107 
[Joint Task Force] that the Government or any of its instrumentalities or agencies, 
108 
including government-owned or -controlled corporations, shall suffer loss or damage in 
109 
its business or property by reason of violation of Section 11 of this Act, such 
110 
instrumentality, agency or corporation may file an action to recover damages and the 
111 
costs of the suit with the Regional Trial Court which has jurisdiction as provided above.  
112 
 
113 
(b) Private Complaint. - Any person or entity shall report any violation of Section 11 of 
114 
this Act to the PCC, FOR PURPOSES OF FACT FINDING AND PRELIMINARY 
115 
INQUIRY. IF THE EVIDENCE SO WARRANTS, THE PCC MAY FILE 
116 
CRIMINAL 
COMPLAINTS 
FOR 
PURPOSES 
OF 
PRELIMINARY 
117 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION BEFORE THE PROPER COURT. [The 
118 
Joint Task Force shall investigate such reports, in aid of which the DOE Secretary may 
119 
exercise the powers under Section 15 of this Act. The Joint Task Force shall prepare a 
120 
report embodying its findings and recommendations as a result of any such investigation, 
121 
and the report shall be made at the discretion of the Joint Task Force. In the event that 
122 
the Joint Task Force determines that there has been a violation of Section 11 of this Act, 
123 
the private person or entity shall be entitled to sue for and obtain injunctive relief, as well 
124 
as damages, in the Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction over any of the parties, under 
125 
the same conditions and principles as injunctive relief is granted under the Rules of 
126 
Court.] 
127 
 
128 
SEC. 5. Authority of the President to Suspend or Reduce Excise Taxes on Fuel - A new 
129 
section is hereby inserted under Republic Act No. 8479 to read as follows: 
130 
 
131 
"THE 
PRESIDENT, 
UPON 
THE 
RECOMMENDATION 
OF 
THE 
132 
DEVELOPMENT BUDGET COORDINATION COMMITTEE, MAY SUSPEND 
133 
OR REDUCE EXCISE TAXES ON FUEL THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER 
134 


5 
 
PROVIDED THAT THE AVERAGE DUBAI CRUDE OIL PRICE BASED ON 
135 
MEAN OF PLATTS SINGAPORE (MOPS) FOR THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE 
136 
MONTHS REACHES OR EXCEEDS EIGHTY DOLLARS (USD 80) PER 
137 
BARREL; PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE SAID SUSPENSION OR 
138 
REDUCTION OF EXCISE TAXES SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY LIFTED 
139 
WHEN THE ABOVE CONDITION IS NO LONGER PRESENT OR AFTER A 
140 
PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR." 
141 
 
142 
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provisions or part of this Act is held invalid or 
143 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
144 
valid and subsisting.  
145 
 
146 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter 
147 
of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
148 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.  
149 
  
150 
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
151 
in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
152 
 
153 
Approved, 
154 
 
155