BY EMILY VITAL
Bulatlat
October 16, 2007 – 3:47 p.m.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) and the No Deal! Movement Against Unequal Economic Agreements led a protest against the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) in front of the Japanese Embassy at 12noon today.

Rita Baua, Bayan international officer, said that JPEPA is “tantamount to Japan’s Second Invasion in the Philippines, this time in the sphere of economics.”

Meanwhile, Fernando Hicap, chairperson of Pamalakaya, lambasted the provision on JPEPA allowing Japanese fishing vessels to fish in the Philippine seas. Hicap argued that marine resources should be solely utilized by Filipinos.

Speaking before the rally, Dr. Gene Nisperos, secretary general of Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) disputed claims of job opportunities for Filipino nurses and caregivers. He said the stringent requirements are difficult to hurdle.

In a statement, IBON Foundation research head and No Deal! Convener Sonny Africa, said, “The JPEPA’s provisions for more liberalization will further erode the Philippine economy, which is already weakened from decades of economic globalization policies.”The JPEPA denies the Philippines the opportunity to implement policy tools that will create a domestic economic environment in which local producers can develop and grow.”

The No Deal! Movement has started a petition drive against JPEPA. The group hopes to present the signatures that it would have gathered at the resumption of the Philippine Senate.(Bulatlat.com)

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