Activists and environmentalists have been asking the Senate not to ratify the agreement. But Cielito Habito, an economist who was involved in the study that paved the way for the agreement, warned against “throwing out the baby with the bathwater.” In his column this week in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, he argued that while the agreement may have been negotiated in secrecy and undue haste, “many provisions in the JPEPA promise to benefit the Philippine economy, and provide much more jobs and livelihood to Filipinos.”

In the end, he said, “the issue really hinges on whether the Philippine government can be trusted to uphold and enforce our environmental laws and indeed our laws in general. And government’s track record, admittedly, does not merit that trust so far.”

But Africa, the economist, said the agreement has far-reaching implications for the Philippines. For one, it sets a precedent that other countries could use in future trade negotiations with Manila.

“It compromises and undermines the Philippines’s position in future trade negotiations with other countries, even within the World Trade Organization,” Africa said. “If Japan can get away with so much under this agreement, another country would be well within its right to demand similar concessions from us.” (Carlos H. Conde/davaotoday.com)(Bulatlat.com)

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