Eco group bucks RP-Japan trade pact

The Ecological Society of the Philippines (ESP) has joined other environmental groups to denounce and oppose an agreement between the Philippine and Japanese governments on the dumping of toxic and hazardous wastes in the country.

Fears raised by environmentalists sprang from their interpretation of the list of products or trade subjected to zero tariff.

ESP president Antonio M. Claparols said the Philippines needs to take a second look "to determine if we will be giving away too much or what the country is giving up in exchange for the entry of Filipino nurses and the tuna export to Japan. We need to compute the aggregate amounts of these concessions, for we may be at the losing end in the long run."

The ESP leader said they would appeal to Japanese officials to stop their government from making the Philippines a dumpsite for toxic and hazardous wastes.

Claparols added that "we must protect our country, its environment and people from toxic and hazardous wastes. We must all stand up and protect our country."