QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda gave her assurance that the issues about the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) raised by the farmers will be heard and answered by the concerned government agencies. She made the statement during the resumption of the Senate deliberations on its concurrence on the ratification of the agreement.  

Agricultural groups fear that a free trade agreement among the member economies would lower the tariffs on certain products which will then lead to an increase in imported food products. According to them, this does not protect the agricultural produce of the country because it would bring down local prices and may harm the earnings of the local farmers. The groups also said there are already existing free trade agreements between RCEP member countries.

The senator answered by saying, “The Senate leadership is one with you. Iisa-isahin ano ang issue ninyo at didinggin ng lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno. Ito ba’y nasa probisyon ng RCEP? Ito ba’y talagang makakasama? O baka may panukalang batas na dapat gawin para masolusyunan ang inyong concerns. Kami po ay nandito para sa inyo,” she said.

She also urged for a strict implementation of the guidelines included in the Resolution concurring in the ratification.

She said her support for the treaty requires the commitment of concerned government agencies. According to the senator, the following agencies must listen to the concerns of the farmers and fishers: the Departments of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Science and Technology, Budget and Management, Agrarian Reform, and National Economic and Development Authority, as well as the Tariff Commission, and the Intellectual Property Office.

“Matuto po tayong makipag-usap sa ating pinagsisilbihan. Buhayin ang mga Anti-smuggling Committee, Public-Private Agriculture Budget Monitoring Committee, at iba pang mga committees na magbibigay-daan sa isang tunay at patuloy na dayalogo at pakikipagtulungan sa hanay ng gobyerno at mga sektor ng produksyon,” she stated.

Legarda emphasized how she is one with the farmers being a farmer herself, but she is also considering the benefits that the country could gain from RCEP.

“Ramdam ko kayo at pinag-aaralan ko ito. On the other hand, naiintindihan ko rin kasi hindi tayo puwedeng maiwanan sa ASEAN,” she said.

Legarda said the stakeholders would be consulted to help draft the guidelines and she would add environmental and sustainability provisions in the guidelines since those are not included in the RCEP rules.

Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual also defended RCEP. He said the government would continue to provide the needed support and level the playing field to help equip and sharpen the capacity of local businesses.

Secretary Pascual explained that "RCEP provides a framework of rules and disciplines to ensure regulatory consistency, creating a conducive business environment that is key to ensuring the confidence of the business sector and spurring further economic growth."

"While we recognize the concerns raised by some sectors, it is important to understand the bigger picture and view RCEP in terms of the opportunities it can bring to us," Sec. Pascual added.

Going back to Senator Legarda, she believes that to further the benefits of global trading systems, there must be transparency in the transactions in government and with trading partners, as well as information sharing that would keep the different sectors well informed of the opportunities in the domestic, regional, and global marketplace.

The senator also highlighted the importance of reforms and improvement of programs suited for the sector that RCEP is targeting to develop.

“Set targets and timeframes for our programs that are responsive to the needs of our farmers, small businesses, and other production sectors. Wala pong forever at bawal ang walang katapusang paghihintay sa mga ipinangakong tulong sa ating mga farmers at mga sektor na nangangailangan ng tulong,” she stressed.

She also sees the need to create comparative advantages for the country’s economic sectors.

“Dapat po natin linangin ang oportunidad na naghihintay sa larangan ng trade in services para sa ating mga manggagawa at mga negosyante. Trade in services is a growing key interest of the Philippines, evident in its fast-paced growth recorded from 2012 to 2020,” she explained.

The creation of a Special Oversight Committee on RCEP implementation is also included in the filed Resolution to check and see that all concerned government agencies will provide the needed support to the farmers and other sectors, including the allotment of budget and, technical and financial support.

“We cannot stand in isolation as we face this huge wave of global and regional economic integration. We need to build capacities and efficiencies to achieve competitiveness,” Legarda said. (ARB, PIA-CPSD)