RP must be ready to amend Constitution, says DTI official

The country must be ready to change the Constitution as it enters into bilateral agreements with other countries, a ranking government official said.

“I would like to highlight that while policy debates on constitutional issues may be purely internal, the country must be ready to address such issues and consider any possible changes that may arise in any international trade agreements,” Trade and Industry Senior Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino said.

According to Aquino, there may be pressures from the outside world for the country to revise the Constitution in order to facilitate smoother negotiations.

In the past, there were moves to remove the provision in the Constitution which limits foreign ownership of land in order to encourage foreign investment.

“We need close coordination with Congress for possible legislative changes,” Aquino said.

Even Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila said that the services negotiations in the Doha Round clash with the law in the Philippines banning foreign lawyers, doctors, accountants and architects.

“(There) is a number of services sectors currently reserved exclusively or predominantly for locals will inevitably need to face the challenge of competition from foreigners,” Favila said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Aquino said the DTI must remain in the lead in international negations despite in spite of the creation of the Office of the Philippine Trade Representative (OPTR).

“The DTI believes that a natural link exists between the issues to be negotiated  and the present policy and regulatory framework within the ambit of its functions,” Aquino said.

Earlier, DTI announced that it will involve lawmakers in the negotiations for the next economic partnership agreement (EPA) with another country in order to avoid another incident like the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

Favila said they are looking at getting representatives from both the Senate and lower house to join trade officials in EPA negotiations.

“Maybe if they are part of the team from day one we would not have problems passing the EPA,” Favila said.

Lawmakers were not part of the JPEPA negotiations.

The JPEPA, which has been approved by the Japanese government, has been pending before the senate as lawmakers questioned the constitutionality of the agreement.

Favila warned that failure to sign the JPEPA will be bad for the image of the country as a good investment destination.

“Non-ratification telegraphs our unwillingness to engage in cooperative ventures with a long-time trade and investment partner,” Favila explained.