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Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Palace defends economic pact with Japan
SOCIO-Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri on Monday said the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) will be beneficial to the Philippines, raking in P250 billion to P300 billion in revenues within the next two to three years.
Neri was responding to the mixed reactions and apprehensions from various sectors regarding the signing of the agreement in Helsinki, Finland last September 9.
He said a study of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (Pids) showed that the Jpepa will generate two to 2.5 percent additional points in revenues, which is "quite significant". He said this translates to P250 million to P300 billion in terms of revenues within two to three years.
He said the Jpepa would open up Japan for the entry of Filipino nurses and caregivers and the markets of both countries for agricultural products.
On the alleged negative impact of the Jpepa on the lives of Filipinos, he said: "How can a positive GDP (gross domestic product) growth have a negative impact on the lives of Filipinos? How can having more exports to Japan on agricultural have a negative impact?" he asked
He said he agrees with the senators that the full text of the Jpepa should be made public, adding that "the negotiators have nothing to hide."
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, in a statement issued from Finland, said "the signing of an economic partnership agreement with Japan signals the growing strength of the Philippines in an integrated East Asian economy."
Bunye said the Philippine economy has already weathered the worst of the political turmoil and that the rise of the country's economic indicators is clear proof that the country is on the right track.
He said the opposition can help by "responsibly fiscalizing the administration agenda" and help strengthen good governance in all fronts, instead of engaging in a perpetual propaganda campaign and smear tactics.
In Helsinki where President Arroyo is attending the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem), Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the President was expected to speak about subjects that are important to Asem and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) such as energy, the convention on migration, disaster mitigation, and avian flu.
Meanwhile, opposition congressman Lorenzo Tañada III challenged the Senate to comply with its constitutional duty to closely scrutinize each and every provision of the Jpepa before ratifying it.
This, as he lambasted the government for not submitting even a copy of the draft to the House of Representatives despite claims that it is only the Senate that has the power to review the agreement since it takes the form of a treaty.
He said during the conduct of public hearings on the matter, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and former justice secretary Florentino Feliciano who served in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body, already said Jpepa takes the form of a treaty and should logically go through the Senate as mandated by the Constitution.
Nevertheless, the House still conducted hearings and later asked that it be provided with a copy of the draft.
The executive department, Tañada said, has refused to provide a copy of the agreement despite repeated requests.
Tanada said that whatever sensitivities there are in the recently signed agreement, it must not be hid from Congress.
He added that lawmakers are willing to go into an executive session so as not to put in jeopardy matters under the agreement once they finally agree to discuss it again. (JMR/DBP/Sunnex)
(September 12, 2006 issue)
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