RP reaffirms commitment to JPEPA

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) as both countries expressed general satisfaction in the overall achievements of the year-old trade agreement.

Manila and Tokyo exchanged views last week on the operation and implementation of the JPEPA since its entry into force on Dec. 11, 2008.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for international economic relations Edsel Custodio said that in the JPEPA, as in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), free and open trade, in its comprehensive and high-quality sense, is the driving force that spurs economic relations between the Philippines and Japan.

 “When the JPEPA entered into force just one year ago on Dec. 11, 2008, it marked the culmination of our effort to establish a comprehensive and multifaceted legal framework for our economic cooperation that will, henceforth, be a major pillar of our strategic partnership,” Custodio said during the meeting.

Custodio said it was also a good beginning as Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and then Japanese Foreign Minister Nakasone convened the inaugural meeting of the JPEPA Joint Committee. The committee adopted the operational procedures for trade in goods, rules of origin and mutual recognition, the first concrete act of the two countries to implement the JPEPA.

Since then, Custodio said the Philippines and Japan have taken significant and essential steps to put the provisions of the JPEPA in operation.

“We are pleased that the Chapter on the Movement of Natural Persons was also smoothly implemented. Between May and September this year, 313 Filipino nurses and caregivers have been sent to Japan under the JPEPA framework, to undergo training and practice their skills while benefiting from non-discriminatory treatment. They will be of great help to the aging population of Japan,” he added.

During the review of the operation and implementation of JPEPA, he said the seedling planted at the beginning of the decade, when the two governments first agreed to pursue a bilateral economic partnership framework, has begun its robust growth.

 “With the commitment of our two governments, the JPEPA will allow our partnership to yield much fruit - the fruits of liberalization, increasing trade and investment, enhanced technical cooperation and capacity-building, improved flow of resources, services and people — that can only be to the great benefit our two countries and peoples,” Custodio said.

Early this year, President Arroyo had noted in a speech before Japanese businessmen the importance of the JPEPA, which she described as “the embodiment of our bilateral relations at their highest peak.”