Transcript of interview with Senator Pia S. Cayetano
(Roundtable Forum on JPEPA)

Q: Please give us a background on this forum

PSC: Basically we're hosting this forum so that senators, their staff, and whoever will attend, gets an overview of the issues surrounding JPEPA. My interest was primarily focused on the environment and health issues since I am the chairperson of the committees overseeing these concerns. But there are other issues. This forum is meant as an eye-opener on concerns like labor, trade and even constitutional and legal issues. I've been hosting this dialogue with concerned groups and the general concern really is that JPEPA may be one-sided. There are environmental considerations, such as the export of toxic wastes, but I'm also very concerned with the plight of our nurses. These are issues na pwede natin ma-thresh out in the forum and give us more information we need.

Q: Yesterday, our ambassador to Tokyo, Domingo Siazon, said that the Tokyo Protocol, the exchange of notes, is already a commitment of the government of Japan that they will not export toxic wastes and that they will follow and uphold that.

PSC: Well, I actually have not seen the side note and hanggang di natin narereview lahat ng relevant termskasi ang understanding natin is napaka-kapal ng agreement na ito. So obligation namin as senators na himay-himayin yun.

I don't think (the side note) gives us an assurance. Nagpapasalamat ako na they're trying to address it, pero obligation pa rin nating siyasatin to be sure na yung side note na yan already covers all those concerns.

Q: Do you know if there are safety measures with respect to hazardous wastes?

PSC: Not that I'm aware of. Strictly speaking, that is the function of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Di pa talaga nalalagay sa forefront ang mga issues na ito. Pero dun sa studies by those who went out of their way, these are the concerned groups, they contend that there are not enough safeguards.

Actually, ang lumalabas na safeguard ay yung sidenote. For me, kulang pa rin yun. Kaya precisely gusto natin alamin yung broad impact ng lahat ng ito kasi it's hard to say that a side note can already take care of the environmental issues.

We all know that Japan is the biggest manufacturer of technological products and electronics. Saan ba napupunta ang mga luma nilang cameras, cellphones, TVs, computers, spare parts and used batteries? Most, if not all, of these equipment are non-biodegadable. Some of these are shipped out or donated (to poor countries). Okay lang kung kailangan natin. Ok lang kung mayroon din tayong proper monitoring and disposal systems. Ang nakakatakot, in the guise of trade or goodwill, nagiging unwitting recipient tayo ng toxic and hazardous waste. But right now, we don't have the technology to deal with these types of wastes.

Q: So as far as you know, 'di enough na safeguard yung side note?

PSC: Sa lawak ng mga issues involved, eh environment pa lang yun. Paano na 'yung sa nurses? On the environment side pa lang ang dami-dami nang products na sakop yan. I don't think a one-page side note can cover this, as well as other issues like our nurses.

Q: Would it be possible for you to recommend or suggest changes vis-a-vis the text of the agreement?

PSC: Yun ang problem. Wala kaming karapatan to make insertions or amendments. It's all or nothing. Ayaw nating maging iresponsable na sasabihing "NO" ang boto ko, o kaya biglang "YES" just to short-cut it. So we have to really look at it thoroughly.

Q: In case JPEPA is not ratified, are we prepared for the consequences? What are the consequences?

PSC: Yung pinanghahawakan nila ay maaapektuhan ang trade relations natin. But from what I understand, Japan will get to protect 200 products from tariff reduction while the Philippines only gets to protect two: rice and salt (under Annex 1 of JPEPA).

Professor Magallona, who was my teacher, has also raised constitutional issues. We are governed by law and we senators want to be sure that everything we do and approve would be in line with Constitution. There would be consequences, for sure. But at the end of the day, with or without the treaty, we'll survive.

Q: Will Japan sever trade ties?

PSC: I don't think they'll sever ties. Let's not go that far. Of course I'd like to think that among responsible and well meaning parties, there's always a solution. Pero kung lalabas na one-sided nga (yung agreement), eh 'di ulitin natin. If it took three months to put it together, eh 'di pagtiyagaan uli ng three months para naman ayusin.

Q: Any timetable?

PSC: Ako I'm willing to continue hosting forums like this to give concerned sectors the opportunity to speak out. Kahit i-parallel sa mga hearings hangga't may willing makinig at maghayag ng views. 'Di naman tayo nagdi-dictate sa kahit na sino. Anyone who has information to provide ay welcome magsalita sa forum.