Through this, Sergio Ortiz-Luis, president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, said the Philippines would be able to participate in the reconstruction and disaster-recovery efforts of Japan, which was hit by the devastating twin earthquake and tsunami in March.

“The supply of our services is an opportunity [for Japan] but right now there are limitations. Maybe, in the review for the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement [Pjepa], we can ask them to suspend or relax the restrictions,” Ortiz-Luis told the BusinessMirror.

He said the Philippines should be able to fill in Japan’s needs for additional manpower in the construction and medical areas.

“This will also [speed up] the benefits that we can derive from the agreement,” Ortiz-Luis said.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is gathering the different stakeholders today to get their inputs for the next round of review for the Pjepa.

Trade Undersecretary for International Trade Adrian Cristobal Jr., Assistant Secretary Ramon Vicente Kabigting and Dr. Erlinda Medalla of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies  are set to provide updates on the utilization of the agreement.

Also expected to speak are Antonio Salvador of the civil-society group Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, and representatives from the business sector.

The forum is consistent with the “One Country, One Voice” consultation program of the DTI.

It seeks to institutionalize stakeholder participation toward a unified trade strategy.

(Max V. de Leon)