Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Sunday, February 19 said the government should make moves to fully assure local farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector that the country's participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will not negatively impact them in the long run.
Escudero, at the same time, clarified he is not opposed to the ratification of the RCEP, but admitted he is still studying the committee report on the said measure.
“Tratado ito na ira-ratify o ire-reject lamang ng Senado. Hindi ito parang batas na puwedeng amyendahan o baguhin pa (It is a treaty that can only be ratified or rejected by the Senate. It is not like a law that can be amended or changed," Escudero said in an interview over Radio DZBB.
"Take it or leave it ika nga ito (It's either take it or leave it)," he said.
That is why, he said, each senator must weigh whether the advantages of having RCEP is far greater than the negative impact it may bring to the country.
“Ang pinaka-puwedeng magawa na lamang ay humiling ng assurance mula sa Executive department na yung mga tatamaang sektor ay mabibigyan ng karampatang ayuda at tulong upang makatayo laban sa mga produktong manggagaling sa ibang bansa na mas mura, mas maganda marahil kumpara sa kasalukuyang mga produkto natin partikular sa sektor ng agrikultura (The most that can be done is to request an assurance from the Executive department that the sectors that will be hit will be given competent aid and assistance to stand against products coming from other countries that are cheaper, perhaps better compared to our current products. particularly in the agricultural sector)," Escudero said.
Last Wednesday, February 15, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda formally sponsored the committee report on the mega free trade deal in the Senate plenary.
At least 16 senators signed the committee report, which includes Zubiri and Legarda, the Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Senators Francis Tolentino, Robin Padilla, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Manuel "Lito" Lapid, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Sonny Angara, Sherwin Gatchalian, Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Grace Poe.