The Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is a comprehensive economic agreement that puts the Philippines at a serious disadvantage. It poses several socio-environmental and equity issues that have grave implications on the well being and future of the Filipino people.

Threat of overfishing and fisheries collapse

While there is no fishery access agreement with Japan and the Philippines, Japanese commercial fishing may be allowed under JPEPA terms because in its definition of “Area” (Article 2) where investments and services may be undertaken includes the territorial waters of the country and its Exclusive Economic Zone.

This is on fisheries per se. Furthermore, the JPEPA provides Japan the exclusive privilege or seemingly the right to bring its technological wastes to the Philippines. Making the Philippines as Japan’s dumping ground of its toxic waste?

To my fellow Padananons, mga inapo ni Datu Tumaka, let’s join hands to oppose the government’s exploits in exhausting our natural resources and contaminating our environment to the advantage of the “pangayaws.”