Lawmakers still not keen on JPEPA despite gov't reassurance

Two senators on Thursday expressed reservations on the the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) despite the Philippine government's continued reassurance in a number of public hearings.

Senator Pia Cayetano said the Executive Branch may want to consider resorting to back-channel negotiations with their Japanese counterparts to correct the perceived flaws in the controversial treaty to benefit the country.

Cayetano said this would avert a "major diplomatic embarrassment" for the Philippine government should the Senate decide to junk the agreement in its present form.

Meanwhile, Senator Mar Roxas said, "In trade negotiations, no deal is always better than a bad deal."

"Unfortunately, despite this being our fourth hearing on JPEPA, the government's presentation to the Senate is inconclusive. The 'gives & takes' remain unclear," Roxas pointed out.

He noted, "For example, the government asserts that JPEPA will lead to the hiring of Filipino nurses, yet the oppositors have singled-out specific chapter and verse in the agreement which says our nurses will be on (on the job training) status."