PBBM’S push for RECEP BACKED
SPEAKING at the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) International Trade Forum (ITF) in Taguig City, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda said it is high time for the people to support the call of President Marcos Jr. to support Filipinos skills and creativity as she recognized the immense potential of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as the vehicle for the success of the Philippine Export Development Plan.
“I have always had faith in the skills, creativity, and innovativeness of the Filipino. That has never been the issue plaguing our country and our reduced capacity to compete. Both the ratification conditions and the way forward now require much more than lip service. It is imperative that we can prove that these benefits touted by the largest economic agreement in recent history can be delivered across a broad range of sectors.
“I therefore give my support to the Philippine Export Development Plan in its comprehensiveness and inclusivity as well as its sharp focus on areas that make us competitive,” Legarda said.
The four-term senator emphasized the unique mention of the Convention on Biological Diversity within the agreement and highlighted the Kunming Montreal Biodiversity Framework, which sets targets for ecosystem restoration and sustainable production practices by 2030.
Drawing attention to the environmental implications of economic growth, she urged the export sector and industries to embrace restoration efforts to improve ecosystems’ capacity to deliver high-value, nutritious, and sustainable products.
She stressed the importance of efficient nutrient cycling, reduced pesticide use, and integrated pest management based on science, which enhances product quality and contributes to ecological integrity and connectivity.
Legarda also underscored the rising global demand for sustainable goods, encouraging Philippine industries to view this as an opportunity for innovation and leapfrogging toward environmentally friendly production mechanisms.
