Thursday, August 16, 2007 Senator belittles side note on RP-Japan pact
SENATOR Pilar Juliana "Pia" Cayetano on Wednesday questioned the legal significance of the "side note" exchanged between Japanese and Philippine foreign affairs officials that supposedly committed Japan to respect local laws that prohibit the entry of toxic and hazardous wastes into the country.
Cayetano said while the exchange of notes three months ago was a welcome development it cannot put to rest apprehensions over the environmental impact of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).
She made the statement in reaction to reports that the side note already puts to rest environmental issues related to Jpepa.
Cayetano doubts whether a mere side note was enough to amend the agreement's controversial provisions that would allow the entry of hazardous wastes from Japan. "Is it proper procedure to amend a bilateral agreement through a mere exchange of diplomatic notes?" she asked.
"I think it is premature to conclude that the side note already puts a closure on the toxic waste issue even as the Senate has yet to fully deliberate on the pother portions of the agreement," added Cayetano.
Cayetano said a more definite and legally binding commitment would be for both governments to ratify the Basel Ban Amendment, which prohibits the movement of toxic wastes from rich to poor countries under the guise of "recycling".
"Ratifying the Basel Ban Amendment would provide greater protection to the Philippines from becoming a dumping ground for toxic wastes, not only from Japan but also from other industrial countries," she said.
The Basel Convention restricts the movement of toxic wastes from industrialized to poor countries but the Basel Ban Amendment plugs the convention's loopholes by prohibiting toxic trade for any other purpose, including reuse and recycling.
The Philippines and Japan are signatories to the Basel Convention but have yet to ratify the Basel Ban Amendment. (CPB/Sunnex)
