Bantayang mabuti ang mga sektor na maaapektuhan ng RCEP deal – Cayetano

Safety nets for affected sectors in RCEP.  Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said he will support the Philippines’ participation in the Philippines in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on one condition: that the Executive Department will give safety nets for all the sectors that might not be big winners in the laxing of trade restrictions.

In his interpellation, Cayetano thanked the Executive Branch for its eagerness to cooperate with the Legislative and urged it to submit a report within 100 days from the passage of the bill identifying the affected sectors along with the measures that will be done to protect them.

“I want the assurance from the Executive department because I really do believe that RCEP will be such a good vehicle for us [our goods and services]. But let’s also have the commitment na kung may maiiwan [na sektor], may interventions. Tingin ko mas maraming winners, pero we cannot afford na may ilang sektor na totally losers dito because it could kill,” he said. (Office of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano file photo)

Hiniling ni Senador Alan Peter Cayetano sa mga sponsor ng Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement na bantayan nang mabuti ang mga sektor na maaaring maiwan kapag niratipikahan ng Senado ang free-trade agreement sa Asia-Pacific region.

“There are going to be winners and losers in RCEP. Rather than pukpukin natin isa’t isa, let us ask if we have a commitment from the executive department that they will look at these sectors,” sinabi ng independent senator sa sponsors ng panukala na sina Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri at Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda sa kanyang interpellation sa plenary session ngayong Martes, February 21, 2023.

“We’re not powerless to address that. What interventions are they going to guarantee to the Senate today?” dagdag niya.

Ang RCEP agreement ay isang free-trade agreement sa pagitan ng 10 miyembro ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pilipinas, Singapore, Thailand at Vietnam – at ang limang Free Trade Partners na Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, at Republic of Korea.

Ayon sa panukala, ang RCEP ay magpapaluwag ng trade restrictions at magpapababa o magpapatanggal ng buwis sa mga traded goods, services, investments, at e-commerce.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang Pilipinas at Myanmar na lamang ang hindi pa pumipirma sa RCEP.

Noong nakaraang linggo, nagpaalala na si Cayetano sa Executive Department na idagdag ang mga safety net at capacity-building measures bilang kanyang kondisyon upang suportahan ang partisipasyon ng bansa sa RCEP.

Inulit ito ni Cayetano sa kanyang interpellation ngayong Martes at nagpaalala na maaaring ang mga sektor ng agrikultura at paggawa ay maiwanan at maapektuhan ng RCEP.

Hinimok din ni Cayetano ang mga sponsor ng panukala at ehekutibo na isama sa plano ang budget upang mapaigting ang mga kapabilidad ng mga Pilipino para makakuha sila ng mas mataas na sahod at upang mas competitive sila sa ilalim ng RCEP deal.

“Ang sabi more jobs will come with RCEP… But it has been shown na kapag ang gobyerno ay hindi lang gumastos (kundi) tama ang gastos, mas magkakatrabaho,” aniya.

“For example, sa OFWs, kung hindi nakapag-aral ang ating mga kababayan, dadami ang OFWs, pero y’ung mababa na pay ang makukuha at y’ung delikado na position sa kanila tulad ng pagiging kasambahay. Pero y’ung mga kasambahay na iyan, kung mapapaaral natin, kaya nilang maging chef, barista, salesman, et cetera,” dagdag pa niya.

Humingi rin si Cayetano ng report mula sa RCEP panel na ipapasa sa loob ng tatlong buwan o sa isangdaang araw upang matulungan ang mga senador na planuhin ang panukalang budget ng Executive Department.

“Is that acceptable to both the sponsors and the Executive Department which is to have a Philippine Eagle eye on those sectors who may be left behind?” tanong ng senador.

“I want that kind of assurance from the Executive Department. Because I do really believe that RCEP would really be such a good vehicle for us. But let’s also have the commitment that, kung may maiwan. We cannot afford for some sectors to become losers because it could kill them,” dagdag niya.

Bilang tugon kay Cayetano, nangako ang mga miyembro ng Executive Department na magsusumite sila ng report sa loob ng tatlong buwan pagkatapos aprubahan ang RCEP resolution.

Pinasalamatan naman ni Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri si Cayetano sa pagtalakay ng mga isyu at sa pagsiguradong walang maiiwan na mga Pilipino.

“I want to thank Senator Alan Cayetano because his heart is always for the masses. Every time we talk about these issues, he fights for the little guys. He always remembers what is the best for the most number of people. He just reminded us again today that this RCEP is a bigger agreement, a bigger area, and a bigger opportunity to help,” wika ni Zubiri. ### (PR)