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TWO
Senate committees are now finalizing a report endorsing
ratification of the controversial Japan-Philippines
Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) despite its
inherent flaws, Sen. Mar Roxas reported Tuesday.
Appearing in the regular forum of the Foreign
Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Roxas
said it is “too soon to tell” if the Jpepa would get the
support of at least 16 senators, representing the
two-thirds vote needed for the treaty to be ratified,
admitting he himself believes there is not much that
Filipinos stand to gain from the accord.
But
after going through all position papers and other
relevant documents submitted during the Jpepa hearings
of the Committees on Foreign Relations and on Trade and
Commerce, Roxas conceded that nonratification of the
bilateral treaty could “result in definite losses to the
country.”
He
confirmed the reports of the two committees would be
circulated for signature of its members shortly after
Congress resumes regular sessions on January 28.
Subsequently, the accord would be submitted for plenary
debates.
“Without
preempting our committee report, and based on the
results of our hearings, I’ve concluded that there is
not much gain that is inherent in the treaty, as
negotiated, thus far. But the loss arising from not
ratifying it is certainly calculable and definite,” said
Roxas, Trade and Commerce committee chairman.
“I will
certainly be circulating it among my colleagues and try
to convince them to come along onboard. With respect to
the treaty, it’s a two-thirds [vote] requirement [in
plenary]. We’ll see what happens, whether in fact the 16
[votes] are available.”
He added
that issues concerning the constitutionality and
legality of the treaty will be tackled in a separate
report to be rendered by Sen. Miriam Santiago, who
chairs the Foreign Relations committee.
He
hinted that in a recent consultation, Santiago indicated
that “she’s fairly comfortable [that] the constitutional
issues have been surmounted.”
Roxas
told the Focap forum that, “Whatever potential gains
there are in terms of increased market access for
Philippine goods into Japan will require behavior by
Philippine businesses and the Philippine government
that, heretofore, we have not seen.”
But he
said a Senate vote rejecting Jpepa would mean “the
exclusion of the Philippines” from the free-trade area
between Japan and members of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, which will soon be formalized.
Roxas
cited, for instance, that lowering tariffs on particular
goods exported to Japan may not help much if not enough
of these are produced in the first place. Besides this,
he added, other countries that export to Japan and have
made trade deals with Japan would have an advantage over
the Philippines if the treaty is not ratified.
He also
pointed to the automotive sector in which the
Philippines, whether the treaty is ratified or not,
would have to face greater competition in the assembly
of completely built units because the competition would
include other Asean countries with fair-trade pacts with
Japan.
As for
nurses and caregivers, he noted that government could
aid, through language seminars and training, those
Filipinos who have to take an exam in Nihonggo before
being hired.
Roxas
also cited earlier assurances by government and Tokyo
that Jpepa ratification “will not cause the unbridled
entry of toxic waste and hazardous substances from
Japan.” |
