THE Philippines has yet to fully implement the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) entered into among Asean member-states covering eight professional services, a lawmaker said over the weekend.
Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, chairman of the House Committee on East Asean Growth Area, said that’s why his committee has recently adopted the House Resolution (HR) 1482 authored by Rep. Catalina G. Leonen-Pizarro of ABS Party list.
HR 1482 urges President Aquino to issue a memorandum circular to fully implement the MRAs entered by the Asean member-states, such as Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and other Asean member-states affecting eight professions in the country, including engineering services, nursing services, architecture, surveying, medical practice, dental practice, accountancy and tourism services, ensuring enhancement measures and safety nets in the light of the Asean integration in 2015.
According to Leonen-Pizarro, MRA seeks to facilitate mobility of practitioners with the Asean region and to exchange information and enhance cooperation in respect of mutual recognition of practitioners.
She added that the MRA also seeks to promote adoption of best practices on standards and qualifications, and to provide opportunities for capacity building and training of practitioners.
The lawmaker said that since December 15, 1995 the Asean has recognized and emphasized the growing importance of trade in services through the adoption of the Asean Framework Agreement on Services (Afas) by the Asean Economic Ministers during the Fifth Asean Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Afas aims to substantially eliminate restrictions to trade in services among Asean member-states, enhance cooperation in services, liberalize trade in services, and promote efficiency and competitiveness of Asean service suppliers.
The Afas establishes the general guidelines for mutual recognition, denial of benefits, dispute settlement, institutional mechanism and other areas of cooperation in the services sector, she pointed out.
Article V of the Afas, the HR noted, provides that the Asean member-states may recognize the education or experience obtained, requirements met, and licenses or certifications granted in other Asean member-states for the purpose of licensing or certification of services suppliers.
Leonen-Pizarro said during the Ninth Asean Summit held on October 7, 2003, in Bali, Indonesia, Asean members signed the Bali Accord II and declared the establishment of an Asean Community which comprises the political, economic, and security communities to include the completion of MRAs for qualifications for major professional services by 2008 to facilitate free movement of professional/skilled labor and talents in the Asean.