I quickly read the JPEPA agreement signed by both countries. I still haven't made up my mind, but my quick reading of all the links below indicate that:
1. The environmental dumping is unfounded. The international treaties the Philippines has signed as well as the tedious environmental impact assessment (EIA) process will prevent or discourage this. It can still be done, but the proponents will spend a lot, probably bribe government officials, to get it implemented.
2. Competition- I don't know what Japan can dump on us. China can dump a lot of cheap goods, while the US can dump their agricultural products on us. Japan. I think they are too high-tech in what they export. Both countries export different products in different market segments.
On owning companies in the Philippines, that is called foreign investment. It is desirable as long as they hire Filipinos, pay living wages, follow Philippine laws, pay taxes, and bring in needed technology. The goal is employment, increased domestic consumption and to encourage local business.
On fishing companies, do you know what the environmental and labor records are of local fishing companies? Not something to be proud of...
I am disgusted though at the barbarian Japanese (and some Filipino) practice of whale and dolphin hunting...
3. I am a bit concerned with intellectual property, especially of our biodiveristy resources. Biotech is the BIG thing in the coming decades. The Philippines should be a research and development leader in this area. Japan wants to be a global leader in competition with the US and Europe. We should partner with any of these three. Who will give the best offer? Who will make us a partner on equal footing?
4. The Philippines should work for easy movement of labor, because that is what we are competitive in, our human resources. The JPEPA provides for this.
5. What no one has commented on or written about is a page-by-page comparison between the JPEPA and the other economic agreements that Japan has signed with other countries. Why not? If not done, this is a serious strategic blunder by Philippine negotiators.
6. Lastly, the JPEPA was signed last year by both countries. The issue now is Senate ratification. Medyo, last two minutes na ito. I find it a bit late to demand changes or abrogation. Last minute palagi, bakit?
The signed JPEPA agreement to be ratified by the Philippine Senate can be found at: http://pcij.org/blog/wp-docs/JPEPA.pdf
1. The environmental dumping is unfounded. The international treaties the Philippines has signed as well as the tedious environmental impact assessment (EIA) process will prevent or discourage this. It can still be done, but the proponents will spend a lot, probably bribe government officials, to get it implemented.
2. Competition- I don't know what Japan can dump on us. China can dump a lot of cheap goods, while the US can dump their agricultural products on us. Japan. I think they are too high-tech in what they export. Both countries export different products in different market segments.
On owning companies in the Philippines, that is called foreign investment. It is desirable as long as they hire Filipinos, pay living wages, follow Philippine laws, pay taxes, and bring in needed technology. The goal is employment, increased domestic consumption and to encourage local business.
On fishing companies, do you know what the environmental and labor records are of local fishing companies? Not something to be proud of...
I am disgusted though at the barbarian Japanese (and some Filipino) practice of whale and dolphin hunting...
3. I am a bit concerned with intellectual property, especially of our biodiveristy resources. Biotech is the BIG thing in the coming decades. The Philippines should be a research and development leader in this area. Japan wants to be a global leader in competition with the US and Europe. We should partner with any of these three. Who will give the best offer? Who will make us a partner on equal footing?
4. The Philippines should work for easy movement of labor, because that is what we are competitive in, our human resources. The JPEPA provides for this.
5. What no one has commented on or written about is a page-by-page comparison between the JPEPA and the other economic agreements that Japan has signed with other countries. Why not? If not done, this is a serious strategic blunder by Philippine negotiators.
6. Lastly, the JPEPA was signed last year by both countries. The issue now is Senate ratification. Medyo, last two minutes na ito. I find it a bit late to demand changes or abrogation. Last minute palagi, bakit?
The signed JPEPA agreement to be ratified by the Philippine Senate can be found at: http://pcij.org/blog/wp-docs/JPEPA.pdf
Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) Hearing on Dec 13.2007
Guys,here's something concrete that you can really do. Go to the Senate Hearing on Dec 13 or at the very least write to these senators.JPEPA is a real threat - not just to marine ecology, but our mountains, forests and ultimately, to our Constitution.Here's something to mull over - if ratified, the Japanese can bring in toxc waste - WITH ZERO TARIFF. Over 200 other items can come in with zero tariff. Japanese can own 100% of companies, including fishing companies. You may want to take a look at these sites to make things clearer:
Let's rally people to come to the Senate hearing on Dec. 13. Or rally people to call or email our Senators :
Pretty sure that these sentators are against the ratification of JPEPA: Jamby, the 2 Cayetanos, Pimentel, Trillanes (but will he be allowed to vote?)We think anti but just to make sure:Villar, Honasan, Lacson, Estrada, Escudero, Legarda.We don't know about these:Biazon, Aquino, Pangilinan, Arroyo, Roxas, Gordon, Zubiri (he asked the environmtal groups to support him the last election. He should support the environmental groups on this one), Enrile, Revilla and Lapid, Angara, Miriam.The Senate hearings are at 10am, the hearings open to the public. By law. The Senate building is at the Roxas Blvd area. Next to GSIS and the Manila Film Center at the CCP complex.Senator Edgardo J. Angara
Senate Office: Rm. 504 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5571 / 5593
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6779 / (632) 552-6852
Telefax: No.: (632) 552-6601 loc. 5572
Email: edgardo_angara@hotmail.com
Website: www.edangara.comSenator Benigno S. Aquino III
Senate Office: Rm. 526 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5541
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6685 / (632) 833-6382
Email: benigno_aquino_iii@yahoo.com
Website: www.noynoy.phSenator Joker P. Arroyo
Senate Office: Rm 511 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5567
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6730 / (632) 833-2291
Fax No.: (632) 552-6790
Email:office_sen_jokerarroyo@yahoo.comSenator Rodolfo G. Biazon
Senate Office: Rm. 527 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5528 / 5529
Direct Line: (632) 552-6772 / (632) 551-7344 / (632) 551-7353
Telefax No.: (632) 552-6772
Email: pongbiazon@yahoo.com
Website: www.biazon.net.phSenator Alan Peter "Compañero" S. Cayetano
Senate Office: Rm. 518 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5518 / 5519 / 5520
Email: alancayetano@yahoo.comSenator Pia S. Cayetano
Senate Office: Rm. 505 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5556 / 5557 / 5588
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6683 / (632) 552-9003
Fax No.: (632) 552-6684
Email: pia@senatorpiacayetano.com
Website: www.senatorpiacayetano.comSenator Miriam Defensor Santiago
Senate Office: Rm. 521-A 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5561 / 5562 / 5563
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6693
Telefax No.: (632) 552-6692
Email: miriam@miriam.com.ph, senmds@yahoo.com
Website:www.miriam.com.ph
Quezon City Office (Main Office):
4/F Narsan Bldg., 3 West Fourth St., West Triangle, 1104 Quezon City
Direct Lines: (632) 411-4380 / (632) 371-9156 / (632)372-4573
Telefax No.: (632) 374-3059Senator Juan Ponce Enrile
Senate Office: Rm. 503 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5552 / 5553 / 5554
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6690 / (632) 552-6691
Email: senator_enrile@senate.gov.ph
Website: www.jpenrile.comSenator Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero
Senate Office: Rm. 517 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 6537 / 6539 / 6540 / 6541
Direct Lines: (632) 833-5034 / (632) 833-8765
Email: sen.escudero@gmail.com
Website: www.chizescudero.comSenator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
Senate Office: Rm. 602 6th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 2521 / 2523 / 2525
Telefax Nos.: (632) 552-6686 / (632) 552-6685
Email: senjinggoyestrada@senate.gov.phSenator Richard "Dick" Gordon
Senate Office: Rm. 509 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5544 / 5546 / 5547
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6793 / (632) 552-6719
Fax No.: (632) 552-6719
Email: rjgordon@senate.gov.phSenator Gregorio B. Honasan II
Senate Office: Rm. 507 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5531 / 5532 / 5533
Telefax No.: (632) 551-0525
Email: gringo_chq@yahoo.com
Website: www.greghonasan.comSenator Panfilo M. Lacson
Senate Office: Rm. 525 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5534 / 5535
Direct Line: (632) 552-6786
Fax No.: (632) 834-6590
Email: ospml@yahoo.com
Website: www.pinglacson.com.phSenator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
Senate Office: Rm. 516 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunkline: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5573 / 5575
Direct Line: (632) 552-6694
Telefax No.: (632) 552-6695
Email: sen.litolapid@senate.gov.phSenator Loren B. Legarda
Senate Office: Rm. 209 2nd Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5537 / 5538 / 5539
Email: loren_b_legarda@yahoo.com
Website: www.lorenlegarda.com.phSenator M.A. Madrigal
Senate Office: Rm. 510 5th flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5565 / 5566 / 5591
Direct Line: (632) 552-6703
Fax No.: (632) 552-6687
Email: mam@senate.gov.ph
Website: www.jambymadrigal.comSenator Kiko Pangilinan
Senate Office: Rm. 603 6th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 6512 / 6514 / 6515 / 2526
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6732 / (632) 552-6748
Fax No.: (632) 552-6747
Email: kikopangilinan@kiko.ph
Website: www.kiko.phSenator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.
Senate Office: Rm. 601 6th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 6501 / 6505
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6733 / (632) 552-6745
Fax Nos.: (632) 552-6713 / (632) 552-6731
Email: aqp@senate.gov.ph
Website: www.nenepimentel.orgSenator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr.
Senate Office: Rm. 506 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5521 / 5523 / 5577
Direct Line: (632) 552-6776
Telefax No.: (632) 552-6698
Email: senbongrevilla@senate.gov.phSenator Mar A. Roxas
Senate Office: Rm. 523 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5524 / 5525 / 5594
Direct Line: (632) 552-6688 / (632) 832-8280
Fax No.: (632) 552-6689
Email: mar@marroxas.com
Website: www.marroxas.comSenator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV
Senate Office: Rm. 519 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5559 / 5560 / 5666
Email: senatortrillanes@gmail.comSenator Manny Villar
Senate Office: Rm. 606 6th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 6508 - 6511
Direct Lines: (632) 552-6876 / (632) 552-6715
Fax No.: (632) 552-6734
Email: mb_villar@yahoo.com
Website: www.mannyvillar.com.phSenator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
Senate Office: Rm. 502 5th Flr., GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 5548 / 5586
Email: senzubiri@yahoo.com.ph
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