Avila and Lavina Oppose JPEPA

The Japan Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) has been ratified by the Senate without much dissent. And two Davao City councilors are up in arms against it. First district counciloors Leo Avila III and Peter Laviña have criticized the ratification of JPEPA and have expressed their disappointment over senators who were absent during the ratification. Avila argues that the agreement is beneficial only to the Japan and would be the Philippines at a disadvantage.

Meanwhile, Laviña pointed out Senators Joker Arroyo and Pia Cayetano as being “conveniently absent” during the voting. He is also disappointed with Senator Ping Lacson and Kiko Pangilinan who surprisingly voted for JPEPA. He has also singled out his Liberal partymate and potential presidential candidate Senator Mar Roxas:

Senator Mar Roxas proved to be a wimp. He admitted that the treaty was lopsided and yet campaigned for it. He was more afraid of losing out to our neighbors which has similar trade agreement with Japan than its ill effects on our country and people. Roxas missed a golden opportunity to lead and shine. The victory of Japan has shown that Roxas is a mere follower, an ordinary soldier of Senate President Manny Villar, who together with Senator Miriam Santiago succeeded in mustering the required 16 collaborator votes.

Laviña praised the four senators who did vote against JPEPA: Jamby Madrigal, Chiz Escudero, Noynoy Aquino, and Nene Pimentel.

The Davao City councilors are only two of the many, including me, who oppose JPEPA. While it’s proponents and advocates contend that the agreement will bring in investments and exportation opportunities for Filipino products and Filipinos, I doubt that there are enough safety nets and preparation for the Philippines to be able to compete with Japan and its products.

JPEPA clearly puts the Philippines at a disadvantage. Call me ignorant but I cannot name one Filipino product that could successfully make it as an export to Japan. But yes, there are more than enough inexpensive Japanese products in our market, which would only become cheaper. So who would benefit, really? The Filipino consumers or the Japanese companies?

Avila and Laviña are clearly right in being disappointed at our senators who have clearly voted against the aspirations and the good of the Philippines and the Filipinos.