SENATORS WILL DROP OBJECTION TO JPEPA
IF JAPAN ISSUES PROTOCOL AGAINST TOXIC WASTE -- PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 'Nene' Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said that the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) will have a good chance of being ratified by the Senate if Tokyo will categorically declare that it will not allow the export or transfer of toxic industrial waste to the Philippines.

Pimentel said that during a brief visit to Tokyo a few days ago, he learned about the plan of the Japanese government to issue a clarificatory protocol that will settle the issue on hazardous waste, which is a principal concern of the senators on the agreement.

He said the clarificatory protocol will supposedly provide that:

1. Japan will abide by Philippine laws prohibiting the dumping of wastes into the country; and

2. Japan will declare that it respects the Basel Convention that binds signatory-countries not to allow the disposal of wastes to other countries.

Pimentel said that if Japan will proceed with the issuance of the clarificatory protocol, senators who had reservations about the Jpepa will no longer object to the ratification of the accord.

"If they will make a firm commitment to respect our laws against environmental pollution, I see no reason why the JPEPA cannot get the Senate's approval," he said, unless there are other basic defects.

Pimentel said he acknowledges the importance of this landmark economic agreement in terms of expanding the economic bilateral trade and Japanese investments in the Philippines and the entry of Filipino doctors, nurses, caregivers and other health professionals to Japan.