The Philippines is confident it would continue to enjoy tariff privileges from the European Union (EU) Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) after the European Parliament backed a proposal by the European Commission for the renewal of the scheme for another four years.
This after the EU noted positive assessment of the country of its obligations on issues involving human rights and labor under the new administration but seeks more tangible results.
In his speech at the Pilipinas Conference in Makati City yesterday, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said the proposal of the EC for the rollover of the existing GSP+ for another four years has been supported by the EP and the European Council.
“That is good news for us, at least we have another four years,” Pascual said, citing the significance to exporters of tuna and manufactured products.
The Philippines has been pushing for the renewal of the GSP+ when it expires by the end of the year but has acknowledged the renewal involves changes in conditions, obligations that the EU asks country-beneficiaries.
In a joint Staff Working Document titled “The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) assessment of the Republic of the Philippines covering the period 2020-2022” released November 21 , the EU cited the new government ’s affirmation of its commitment to comply with the GSP+ commitments since the beginning.
During the reporting period, EU monitoring focused on extra-judicial killings, intimidation of and attacks against civil society (including red-tagging and violence against human rights defenders and media professionals), child labor, labor rights and cooperation with United Nations (UN) bodies.
The EU noted the Philippines has taken several steps to address points of concern and that the situation continues to progress under the current administration.
The report said tangible results are now needed.
On human rights, the report said the new administration has shown willingness to engage with the international community on human rights, having actively participated in multiple mechanisms of the UN Human
Rights Council (UNHRC) and government’s new focus on prevention and rehabilitation in the “war on drugs”, active participation in the works of the UNHRC and the visits of several UN Special Rapporteurs.
The report noted the government has made positive development when it made statements on its intention to fight against impunity; first court convictions for extra-judicial killings in 2021 and 2022 and efforts to move forward the investigation of other cases and; that it does not plan to reinstate the death penalty.
“Notwithstanding the positive developments, the EU would expect more resolute actions to address the outstanding issues of concern, particularly ensuring accountability for extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses, notably related to the `war on drugs’ campaign, combatting the harassment of civil society, as well as violence against journalists,” the report said.
On labor rights, the report said since the new administration took office, there is movement in the right direction with some tangible results, like improved cooperation with the International Labor Organization.
“However, concrete results on other issues are still pending,” the report said, citing as an example that the Labor Code is only partly aligned with Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, and while several bills were filed to address ILO requests, none of the proposed amendments that have been tabled in the legislature over the years have been adopted so far.
Some progress was noted in the fight against child labor, notably in terms of legislation against the online sexual exploitation of children and tackling trafficking in persons.
“But national labor laws need to better align with international standards on freedom of association, and the protection of workers’ right to security of tenure should be ensured,” the report added.
The EU report also noted the Philippines has made good progress on the implementation of all relevant environmental and climate conventions when it ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and its planned ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes.
The Philippines has taken steps towards the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora .
The report, however, noted there have been no notable developments in the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety since 2020.
In the area of drug control, the EU called on the new administration on its balanced approach in its national drugs policy, shifting to prevention and rehabilitation in accordance with international human rights commitments.
“This more balanced approach towards anti-drug policy on the supply and demand sides should continue. The deficiencies in the judiciary system and in law enforcement still need to be addressed, and perpetrators of human rights violations brought to justice.”
The report noted that while compliance with the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) has improved, weaknesses remain.
“There is a need for better inter-agency coordination, strengthening of administrative procedures and oversight at all levels, clearer rules for asset recovery as well as the risk assessments on corruption.
Based on the report, the Philippines maintained ratification of all 27 GSP+ related international conventions but fulflled only in part and in some cases with continued delays its reporting obligations and some of the reports related to the environmental conventions are still due.
These conventions are: UN Human Rights Conventions (Conventions 1-7), ILO Labor Rights Conventions (Conventions 8-15), UN Conventions on Environmental Protection and Climate Change (Conventions 16-23) and the UN Conventions on Good Governance (Conventions 24-27).
