Groups slam JPEPA ratification
2 MIN READ
BAGUIO CITY — Groups are enraged at the ratification of the Japan Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) at the senate late night of October 8.
According to Windel Bolinget of the militant Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), the senate ratification of the said treaty was railroaded giving no time for objections to be aired or considered.
Bolinget also said the JPEPA is clearly onerous and a violation of Philippine sovereignty in the terms of the agreement as unequal and detrimental to the Filipino people.
“Under this agreement, the protection and preservation of our natural resources and environment would be threatened not to mention the rightful claim of indigenous peoples to their ancestral domains, as the treaty encourages destructive projects by Japanese trans-national corporations like large-scale mining and mega-dams,” said Bolinget.
Environmentalist group Kalikasan People’s Network (Kalikasan-PNE) in a statement said their group is outraged by the ratification of the agreement because of its “unconstitutionality.”
On top of this is that toxic wastes would be sent to the country and would not even be taxed, said the statement.
“Expect the increase in trading and entry of voluminous wastes from Japan to our country,” said the statement.
Virgie Dammay of Alyansa dagiti Pesante iti Taeng Kordilyera (ApitTako) said it is expected that Japanese agricultural chemicals would flood the market because of this agreement at a time that farmers are developing their organic production and market for local produce.
Meanwhile, Claire Daguio,secretary-general of Migrante Baguio-Benguet said the ratification of JPEPA is a desperate move of the government to alleviate the current crisis but in a wrong way.
“Our nurses are sacrificial lambs and the senators who voted for the agreement’s ratification institutionalized the commodification of our health workers and professionals in a disadvantageous labor-export deal,” said Daguio referring to the treaty’s provision on sending Filipino nurses to Japan.
The senators who voted for the JPEPA were Miriam Defensor Santiago, Manuel Roxas III, Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Alan Peter Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Miguel Zubiri, Manuel Villar Jr. and Lito Lapid.
Only four senators voted against its approval namely Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Ma. Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, Francis Escudero and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr. # Cye Reyes
