Noynoy urged to recall 'midnight EOs'

MANILA, Philippines - The multisectoral Fair Trade Alliance (FTA) is calling on incoming President Benigno Aquino III to prioritize the review and recall of controversial “midnight” Executive Orders issued by outgoing President Arroyo.

Setting its proposed agenda for the first 100 days of the Aquino administration, the FTA lined up several economic measures that they want the new president to “review, recall or revoke” due to their alleged adverse impact on various sectors of the economy.

Leading FTA’s list of controversial measures is the recently published EO 877-A or the Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Development Program (CMVDP) insofar as it allows importation of used cars and the restructuring of tariffs for imported vehicles.

Oppositors of the EO – which was allegedly enacted sans sufficient public consultation – claim that EO 877-A allows the tinkering of tariff structures to choose winners and losers in the auto-making and vehicle importation industries.

During the FTA convenor’s meeting in Quezon City, the group said it has written at least three letters inquiring about the status of the questioned EO but got no response from Malacañang or the Department of Trade and Industry.

Apart from EO 877-A, the group also wants President Aquino to renegotiate the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) stressing that the same is lopsided in favor of Japan.

FTA said it will create a multi-stakeholder task force that will coordinate directly with the Aquino administration to find out if JPEPA really achieved its goal or if the Philippines got a raw deal.

At the same time, the group also outlined the following urgent concerns that the new administration should focus on: issuance of an EO for the Freedom of Information, in lieu of the botched approval of the FOI bill in Congress; an EO creating the Philippine Trade Representative Office; review of bilateral trade agreements; enhanced tax collection instead of new taxes; and appointment of people of known integrity and competence in key Cabinet posts.