Friday, August 01, 2008 Laviña: Santiago's new JPEPA stance a form of suicide
DAVAO City Councilor Peter Laviña said Senator Miriam Defensor's "change of tune" regarding the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is a form of suicide.
"This is a disturbing change of tune. Where before Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago was batting for a side agreement on the JPEPA, now she is about to lead the second surrender of the Philippines to Japan," said Laviña.
He added: "Her beef-hard to educate people who are afraid of the unknown. The feisty lady, staunch defender of the Constitution and candidate for the International Court of Justice, is giving up! This is harakiri!"
The Davao City council, upon Laviña's proposal, passed a resolution last April urging the Senate to junk JPEPA on the grounds that it is an "unfair" agreement that will be detrimental to the country's development especially Mindanao.
This after concerned sectors allied with the Mindanao Ayaw Sa JPEPA Coalition (MASJC) aired their concerns particularly on the economic and environmental impact of JPEPA in a joint hearing under the City Council committees on commerce and on environment last March 26.
IRDF executive director Arze Glipo said the agreement not only undermines the country's sovereignty but also threatens the environment.
IRDF is a policy research, advocacy, and campaigns non-government organization aimed at what it calls as "people-centered sustainable development."
According to studies done by IRDF legal consultants on JPEPA, the pact provides that Congress, the country's lawmaking body, cannot craft international trade policies without the sanction of the Japanese government.
This in turn undermines the authority of Congress and can be viewed a violation of the country's independence.
Aside from this, JPEPA also allows the relaxation of trade policies, thus Japan can send in whatever it chooses to do so as long as it is not stated in the "banned" list, which contents is not specifically detailed at present.
IRDF said if JPEPA is ratified, it will eventually open up the Philippine economy and domestic markets to Japanese goods and investors, As a result, Filipino farmers and artisanal fishers would be adversely affected.
The full investment liberalization of JPEPA will allow Japanese nationals and companies the same treatment and privileges as with the Filipino nations in all stages of investments, meaning they can now own 100 percent of properties and business in the Philippines.
This is not allowed at present as the law provides that majority of any property or business must be owned by a Filipino. (GLP/With Sunnex)
