Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, head of the committee on foreign relations, said government representatives failed to refute allegations that the Philippines could become Japan’s dumping site of toxic wastes once the accord becomes effective.

“This is already round three of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). I already gave the first two rounds to those against the JPEPA. Today, I still give round three to those opposed to the JPEPA,” she told reporters.

Two more hearings on the JPEPA are scheduled.

Richard Gutierrez of the Basel Action Network in Asia Pacific presented cases of Japan’s toxic waste exports and illegal dumping allegedly committed by Japan in other countries and inside the country as well.

With JPEPA in place, it provides zero tariff from the present 30 percent on products opponents claim are “toxic waste”. The Philippine government would seemingly give incentives for Japanese traders to export these wastes to the Philippines, environment groups claim.

Gutierrez called on the Senate to reject JPEPA, ratify the Basel Ban Amendment and implement national toxic waste bans.

Environment Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio it is government policy to prohibit the entry even in transit of hazardous wastes and their disposal into Philippine territorial limits.

Santiago told reporters that she was not receiving solid arguments from the government side, which would help her persuade the opposition in the Senate to support JPEPA.

“If I cannot defend the treaty, it would get rejected in the Senate floor,” she said.