Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Concerns raised on pact
MEMBERS of Cebu’s business community yesterday raised various concerns, including environmental issues, worsening of the brain drain problem and the entry of more used vehicles, during the regional consultation on the ratification of the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).
The Jpepa, signed by the governments of Japan and the Philippines in December 2002, aims to facilitate and promote the free trans-border flow of goods, persons, services and capital between the two countries.
Representatives of the local business community raised the issue on whether Jpepa will “truly” provide employment opportunities for Filipino medical professionals and, if this is so, whether the agreement would worsen the country’s brain drain problem.
A lot of Filipino medical professionals have left the country for better-paying jobs overseas, causing personnel shortage in local hospitals.
Business players also asked if the controversial economic agreement between Japan and the Philippines would address issues related to smuggling of vehicles and regulation of imported second-hand vehicles.
Benefit
Some also raised the need for stringent measures in the agreement to prevent the dumping of toxic wastes from Japan.
Potenciano Intal, De La Salle University-Angelo King Institute (DLSU-AKI) executive director, assured Cebu’s business leaders during the multi-sectoral consultation that the province and the country in general will benefit from the ratification of Jpepa.
“It is not true that we are at the bad end of the deal,” he told sector representatives during the consultation held yesterday at The Parklane Hotel.
Intal also dismissed speculations that Jpepa would allow Japan to dump hazardous wastes in the country.
He said Japan and the Philippines have exchanged letters to clarify that toxic wastes will not be exported, in accordance with the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Toxic and Hazardous Wastes and the domestic laws of the two countries.
“With or without Jpepa, the Philippine Government needs to deal with the dumping of toxic wastes. Jpepa can even strengthen the country’s capability in dealing with environmental issues through technology and information transfer,” he told reporters after the meeting.
He said the same is true with the country’s struggle to regulate the entry of used vehicles and smuggled cars.
Ryan Patrick Evangelista, Universal Access to Competitiveness and Trade (U-Act) executive director, said Jpepa also allows employment “and not migration opportunities” for high-skilled workers especially in the medical field since “it is time bound.”
Under Annex 8, Chapter 9 of the Jpepa, both countries will allow the movement of professional workers for one to three years.
The agreement does not impose restrictions on the number of Filipinos entering Japan for employment opportunities except for immigrations laws.
Open
Quoting a statement earlier released by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Evangelista said this will be the first time for Japan to open up its services sector to Filipino nurses, caregivers and other skilled specialists.
However, Filipino workers must first have a good comprehension of the Japanese language and comply with various technical requirements and regulations in Japan.
Intal said all concerns raised by local stakeholders will be consolidated by the group for a more detailed understanding and balanced view on Jpepa.
Evangelista and Intal said the endorsement of Jpepa in the Philippine Senate will depend on the support of the private sector.
“We are counting on Cebu’s private sector for major support, especially since there are many Japanese firms in the province,” Evangelista said
He said the business leaders in earlier consultations in Bacolod City and General Santos City threw their support for the ratification of the agreement.
Evangelista said round table consultations with the labor sector will soon be scheduled.
The regional consultation was initiated by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, U-Act, Office of the Special Envoy for Trade Negotiations, DTI, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters’ Confederation and the DLSU-AKI. (MMM)
