Philippines: Sign Not JPEPA, Trash Not our Future : QC IMC

Transparent and accountable negotiations with full public access to information and negotiation processes will ensure the protection of our sovereign rights as a people, including our right to a balanced and healthful ecology and to a toxics-free future.

We fear that the secrecy that shrouds the JPEPA negotiations might lead to a possible repeat of the Japanese waste fiasco in July 1999, which saw the entry at the Port of Manila of 122 container vans filled with contaminated waste such as used diapers, sanitary napkins, syringes, dextrose, garments and bandages sent to the Philippines in the guise of recycling.

Japanese government urged not to sign JPEPA until a public consultation is done.We wish to put on record that we will resist any attempt to make the Philippines a dumpsite for toxic materials and technologies from Japan or any other countries.

We will not allow the importation of toxic wastes misrepresented as "recyclable" or "with recyclable content," which is prohibited under RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000). We will not allow the entry of health-damaging incinerators to burn municipal, biomedical and hazardous wastes, which is banned under RA 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999). We will not allow the shipment to the Philippines of hazardous and nuclear wastes, which is forbidden under RA 6969 (Control of Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Act of 1990).

We reject the recommendation made by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc. to JPEPA that “the government should expeditiously develop an environment-friendly facility equipped with appropriate incinerator,*”as this will undermine the incineration ban.

We join the Freedom from Debt Coalition and other partner groups in asking the governments of Japan and the Philippines to desist from signing JPEPA, to fully disclose its contents and allow the Filipino people to examine and decide whether the agreement will be beneficial to public welfare and health and environment.

*http://www.jccipi.com.ph/honbunenglish.doc , “Reference on Findings in the Comparative Study of Climate of Investment between the Philippines and Thailand, JCCIPI, January 2006

GAIA
Contact:
GAIA in Manila Manny Calonzo + 63 2 929 0376
GAIA in USA Monica Wilson +1-510-8839490 int 103
Spanish Speaking Countries Cecilia Allen +54 11 4701-6618
French Speaking Countries Fatou Souare +1-510-8839490 interno 101

05 September, 2006 Manila, Philippines. Environmental groups belonging to the Ecowaste Coalition are deeply concerned about the total lack of public disclosure of the soon to-be-signed Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).