MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) The Philippine Senate ratified late Wednesday night the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

Voting 16-4, the economic pact was approved on third and final after hours-long discussions at the Senate plenary on the last session day before a month-long congressional recess.

“At long last, JPEPA can now be implemented with the assurance that we in the Senate will maintain a hawk’s eye vigilance against any potential abuse by either side,” said Senator Mar Roxas, one of the co-sponsors of the treaty, which opens Japan to Philippine products and labor.

“This is just the beginning. It is up to our government, in cooperation with the private sector, to fulfill and maximize the gains made possible through this treaty,” he said.

But Roxas also cautioned the government “to ensure that the best interests of the Filipino people will always prevail in pursuing expanded economic, social and cultural relations” with Japan.



“We are witnessing a financial tsunami going around the financial centers around the world. It is timely that we acted on JPEPA at this time. It is necessary for us to keep up our competitiveness with our ASEAN neighbors, who have their respective economic agreements with Japan,” said Roxas.

Four opposition senators voted against the pact. They are Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Senators Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, and Ma. Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal.