1-million strong farmers’ group endorses JPEPA

CABANATUAN CITY — At least one million Filipino farmers belonging to the biggest farmers’ organization in the country expressed support yesterday for Senate ratification of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), citing that a whopping P53 billion in additional gains in agriculture would be realized under the treaty.

The farmers, belonging to the party-list Butil, said the benefits of JPEPA are so overwhelming to be overlooked. They said the Senate should look into the merits of the proposal which would not only benefit farmers but also food processors, fishermen and other stakeholders in the agriculture industry.

It was the first time Butil made known its stand about the issue amid the continuing failure of the Senate to ratify the treaty.

Butil party-list Rep. Leonila Chavez said they have decided to endorse JPEPA for a Senate approval after carefully weighing its props and cons and realizing its positive impacts to the economy.

“The positives simply outweigh the adverse effects. The fears raised by critics are unfounded, Chavez said during the Farmers’ Day of the Butil Farmers’ Party at the National Food Authority (NFA) regional compound here yesterday which coincided with the congresswoman’s birthday.

Yesterday’s event, which carries the theme: “Teknolohiya, pananaliksik at makinarya: tungo sa makabagong pagsasaka (Technology, research and machinery: Onward modern farming),” was also graced by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap who was named honorary member of Butil.

Yap, in a separate interview, said that if JPEPA is passed, the country could expect unprecedented economic growth, much like the 7.1-percent growth the Arroyo administration realized which was the highest in 31 years. “Certainly, this support by Butil is a welcome development,” he said.

Chavez said one of the most overlooked provisions of the JPEPA is that Japan is committed to increase its Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to the country. Japan is already the largest source of Philippine ODA.

“Once JPEPA is ratified, Japan will pump more ODA to 10 vital national concerns ranging from skills training, road development and management of the country’s environment and natural resources.

“Remember, JPEPA is the most comprehensive bilateral agreement the country has ever entered into since the Laurel-Langley Agreement of 1954,” she said.

Chavez explained that JPEPA would easily infuse P53 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) since Japan, the second biggest buyer of Philippine agricultural exports, would commit to buy more agricultural products using the process of tariff elimination and reduction.