RP reaffirms commitment to JPEPA

Published by rudy Date posted on December 20, 2009

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.” –Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.