Roxas: JPEPA experience highlights need for gov't reforms

Senator Mar Roxas, Liberal Party President, said the harrowing experience in having the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) passed underscores the people’s distrust of government, and consequently, the need for reforms in state institutions.

“I think a lot of the mistrust associated with JPEPA began not as a result of the actual provisions of the treaty, but the secretive manner in which the government went about with it,” said Roxas, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce and co-chair of the JPEPA joint panel. 

He noted the Supreme Court case filed three years where executive privilege was cited to prevent the disclosure of information on JPEPA. Although the government was cleared by the high court, Roxas said this lack of open communication between stakeholders fostered ill will.

“The government must shift from this policy of ‘minimum disclosure’ that the government seems to have adopted in all its dealings, from the NBN-ZTE project to the GRP-MILF agreement on the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, and others,” he said.

 The Senator maintained that although the JPEPA would not benefit Filipinos much, it would be far more harmful to not pass it and be left behind by other ASEAN countries trading with Japan.

“Some say we could have gotten more. Others claim, we gave up too much. Let me be candid. I too feel that we could have negotiated better. We could have gotten more,” he said.

“The choice before us is not the present JPEPA versus another better JPEPA that we can pick and choose from. The choice before us is the present JPEPA versus no JPEPA and an uncertain future as to when it could be renegotiated again and what terms we could actually obtain at that future time,” he added.

In order to address environmental concerns raised by some groups, Roxas has called on the executive to transmit to the Senate the Basel Ban Amendment, which would widen the coverage of hazardous substances banned for export, to include items for recycling. “It’s about time that the Senate reviews and consults with stakeholders on the need to ratify the amendment to the Basel Ban Convention. The important thing is to get started with the discussions,” he said.

He has also filed a bill to increase the penalties for violation of Republic Act No. 6969, the Toxic Substance and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990.

Roxas said a way to encourage transparency and accountability in government is his proposed Free Information Act, Senate Bill No. 109. A counterpart bill has already been passed in the House of Representatives, sponsored by fellow Liberal Erin Tañada of Quezon. The measure would require government offices to respond to all requests for public information within two days, unless this would place at risk national security, diplomatic relations or the peace and order situation.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 | posted in asean, bangsamoro juridical entity, erin tañada, free information act, japan, jpepa, mar roxas, milf, pgma, philippines, quezon, supreme court | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: Self-sufficiency key to solving rice crisis

Senator Mar Roxas, who arrived in Lucena, Quezon this morning, said rice self-sufficiency was the key in dealing with the rice crisis that has hit the country and has brought up prices by as much as P8 in the past two months.

“Kung dito pa lang sa atin, self-sufficient tayo sa ating pangangailangan ng bigas, hindi na tayo maaapektuhan sa kahit anong presyo o supply sa pandaigdigang merkado,” Roxas said.

“Nasa irigasyon, nasa suporta sa magsasaka para makabili ng tamang fertilizer at pesticide ang solusyon, na sa ganoon ang pangkaraniwang ani ay maitaas natin, mula 2.5 na tonelada bawat hektarya sa ngayon, hanggang sa pinakamaganda talaga na anim na tonelada bawat hektarya,” he added.

The senator participated in a dialogue with marketgoers at the Lucena City Public Market in the morning, after which he attended a town hall meeting in the Provincial Capitol upon the invitation of Quezon Gov. Raffy Nantes. Also present were Quezon Vice-Governor Kelly Portes, Quezon 2nd Dist. Rep. Procy Alcala, as well as various mayors, vice-mayors, councilors and barangay captains, and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) for the environment, social services, rural development, health, and women and children protection.

After the consultation, the local leaders led by Gov. Nantes, signed and presented provincial resolutions to the senator declaring their full support for his bills calling for the suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil products and a tax exemption for minimum wagers, as well as the immediate passage of the proposed Quality Affordable Medicines Act.

Roxas, the Liberal Party President, congratulated Gov. Nantes, a fellow Liberal, for his responsiveness in dealing with the situation. “Maganda talaga ang ekonomiya rito sa Quezon. May balanced spending, at focused spending – hindi patingi-tingi ang pagpondo sa mga importanteng programa at proyekto. Maraming pera sa bulsa ng mga mamamayan dahil sa masasaganang ani,” he said.

Roxas said the national government should follow Quezon’s example, for self-sufficiency and productivity to occur on a wider scale. “Una sa lahat, kailangang harapin ng gobyerno ang problema. Ano ba ang problema? Ang kakulangan ng supply ng bigas dito sa atin. Dapat nang kumilos at mag-focus ang paggastos para hindi na tayo aasa sa mga imported na bigas,” he said.

He noted that even though the government has spent billions annually on rice production, this has not been done in the most efficient manner. “Bagamat may badyet para sa National Irrigation Administration, National Food Authority, Department of Agriculture at iba pang ahensya, taon-taon ay nag-aangkat pa rin ng 2 milyon toneladang bigas, dahil kulang talaga ang produksyon dito,” he said.

“Mas mabuti na ang ating mga magsasaka ang maikikinabang sa pagbili ng bigas, kaysa sa ibigay ang pera na ito sa mga magsasaka at exporter ng Thailand at Vietnam,” he added.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 | posted in arthur yap, cheaper medicines bill, e-vat, kelly portes, lucena city, luzon, mar roxas, oil, pgma, philippines, president, procy alcala, quezon, raffy nantes, rice crisis, thailand, vietnam | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas to hold dialogues on rice situation in Quezon

Senator Mar Roxas will be at Lucena, Quezon on Thursday, April 24, to get updates and to determine the "best practices" in handling the rice situation, in order to ensure the continued availability of rice at affordable levels both in the province and nationwide.

"I want to discuss with local officials, including my fellow Liberal, Gov. Raffy Nantes, how they have managed to remain responsive to the rice situation even as the rest of the nation is struggling to do so. Quezon's best practices will help us national leaders provide for the needs of other local governments," Roxas, the Liberal Party President, said.

"Every province would have its own specific and unique concerns even on issues of a national scope, such as the impending food crisis. With the help of all, we will be able to ensure food security for the long-term. I also want to hear what their constituents' concerns are in terms of the production and distribution of rice and other commodities," he added.

Gov. Nantes invited Roxas as a special guest in a public consultation on Thursday morning with local leaders and stakeholders on national issues such as the continued rise in the prices of rice and oil to record levels. The forum will be held at the Bulwagang Kalilayan at the Provincial Capitol Compound in Lucena City.

Another issue to be dealt with is the Quality Affordable Medicines bill, which is nearing passage at Congress. The committee composed of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, are set to meet tomorrow to finalize the bill, which Roxas said is already "99% complete."

"Once this bill to lower the prices of medicines is passed, the real work begins. I urge the national government to coordinate closely with local governments to bring the benefits of the measure to all," he said, adding that he would initiate the holding of conferences across the nation on the merits of the proposed law and how to best implement its provisions.

Roxas will also attend the graduation ceremonies of Southern Luzon State University as guest of honor, on Thursday noon at the Quezon Convention Center, also in Lucena.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 | posted in cheaper medicines bill, e-vat, food crisis, oil, pgma, philippines, president, quezon, rice crisis | 0 comments [ More ]