MANILA, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said yesterday that the Philippines well do well to delay by five years the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) which is scheduled for implementation next year.
In an interview with newsmen, Yap said a five-year delay “may be… good… because of the recession.”
Yap pointed out that there are so many “instabilities” that make it difficult to project commodity prices and even farm inputs such as fertilizers.
He also noted that uncertainties continue to affect the global economic recovery with “the stimulus and rescue packages not even determined.”
Furthermore, Yap observed that “the West… Japan and China have not shown any signs of recovery at all.”
Thus “this is not the time to go head on and destabilize the system by unbridled trade flows,” he added.
Yap pointed out that Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, has made representations to other ASEAN countries for the temporary suspension of the full implementation of AFTA by 2010.
“Secretary Favila has already said that he will make representations.We will await the results of that. We’re waiting for a suspension of the full implementation because of the recession and Sec Favila has already agreed to that. That is also my position.” –Marianne v. Go, 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
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – 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
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