How Toxic is Jpepa?

Presently being considered for ratification by Philippine Senate is the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa). Under the Philippine Constitution, its approval needs at least 2/3 votes of the Senate.

The biggest objection to it so far is its threat to Filipinos' health and environment since according to its critics, the treaty will allow the Japanese export of its toxic waste into the country. This fear is being assuaged by the Philippine Ambassador to the World Trade Organization, Manuel Tehankee. Ambassador Tehankee asserts that Jpepa does not provide for export of waste products which violates international and local laws. According to him Japan has the technology to process its own waste.

The biggest benefit of Jpepa, says the ambassador is the resulting greater revenue of from Philippine Pesos: PhP6.5 to 110 Billions worth that will accrue from an improved economic activity. This according to him far outweighs the revenue losses of about PhP3.69 to 4.15 Billions due to products coming in tax free.

Former NEDA Director and University of the Philippines economist, Solita Monsod, in her statement made to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Nov. 23, 2007 also recommended Jpepa ratification by the Senate saying that: "The benefits of Jpepa far exceed its cost." According to Ms Monsod:

There's a lot at stake for the Philippines here. It is well to keep in mind at this point that Japan is our largest source of Official Development Assisstance (ODA), which is more than 10 times larger than the United States ODA to us; Japan is our second largest source of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs); our third largest trading partner with whom we now enjoy a trade surpplus; as well as our third largest source of tourists. Japan is also the larges employer of overseas Filipino workers in East and Southeast Asia (2005), accounting for roughly 12% of total OFW remittances. She has been on the whole, a steadfast, non-bullying development partner of the Philippines.

Despite these assurances, the Filipinos are not jumping up and down over Jpepa. It might be because, its toxicity is emanating from somewhere else. One is our collective horrible memory of World War II with the images of comfort women, Filipino patriots being bayonetted by the Japanese and more recently, Filipino women OFWs telling harrowing stories of abuse and violence perpetrated on them by their Japanese employers. On top of these is our nagging suspicion that Jpepa will benefit only the officials of the land into whose pockets most of the Billions will be stashed.