Press Statement of Senator Loren Legarda

On pressures exerted on RP 'barriers to trade'

The Philippines must not succumb to overseas pressures to ease on measures that protect local farmers and manufacturers against imported goods flooding our country. Many imports enjoy production subsidies from the governments of their countries of origin, thus they are sold in the local market much cheaper than their locally produced counterparts.

While there is a need to provide our countrymen access to cheaper goods during this economic downturn, we cannot allow it to be at expense of local farmers and producers, who are being eased out of our own market due to the unfair competition posed by the subsidized imports. We must encourage local production to promote more employment.

Smuggling, including of fruits and vegetables, must be stopped too as the untaxed goods that swamp our country through the backdoor does not only deprive government of revenues, but pose a graver threat to local farmers and producers than subsidized imports.

On Cheaper Medicine Act worrying US pharmaceuticals

The Cheaper Medicines Act must be fully implemented as it redounds to the good of our people, the majority of whom cannot afford branded medicines. The law must not be diluted or implemented halfheartedly, more so during these hard times when access to cheaper medicine must be afforded our people.

We cannot stop the reported Office of the US Trade Representative from "closely monitoring" the implementation of the said law because it allegedly "increases uncertainty for US pharmaceutical companies." But the responsibility of our government is to our people, not the profit of foreign companies.

On lifting of deployment ban on Lebanon, Jordan

The government may be well-intentioned in lifting the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Lebanon and Jordan, probably wanting to increase employment opportunities for our people. But government must first ensure that the conditions - such as war, peace and order, and lack of protection afforded expatriate workers against abuses, among others - that led to the ban in the first place are no longer prevailing or are being addressed.

The majority of Filipinos that had been deployed in Lebanon and Jordan were mostly household workers, the most vulnerable to abuses, including contract substitution and low wages, as well as physical, mental and even sexual exploitation. Our labor and OFW welfare offices in the said countries must be staffed with people who have genuine concern for OFWs and who would come to their immediate aid when so warranted. We have had so many tales of woes from OFWs in the past who came home from Lebanon and Jordan.