Lawmakers are urging President Aquino to hasten the full implementation of the Mutual Recognition Agreements/Arrangement (MRAs) entered into by the Philippines with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states to facilitate mobility of medical professionals, architects, engineers and accountants within the region in preparation for the ASEAN integration by 2015.
House Resolution 1482, which sought the issuance of A Memorandum Circular to fully implement the MRAs entered by the ASEAN Member States such as the Brunei-Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines (BIMP-EAGA) and other ASEAN Member States affecting eight professions in the country was recently adopted subject to form and style by the special House Committee on East ASEAN Growth AREA (EAGA), chaired by TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza.
The eight professional services include Engineering Services, Nursing Services, Architecture, Surveying, Medical Practice, Dental Practice, Accountancy and Tourism Services.
ABS party-list Rep. Catalina G. Leonen-Pizarro said the MRAs, which were concluded separately from December 9, 2005 to November 9, 2012, should have been implemented to facilitate mobility of practitioners with the ASEAN region and to exchange information and enhance cooperation in respect of mutual recognition of practitioners.
She said the agreements will also promote adoption of best practices on standards and qualifications; and will also provide opportunities for capacity building and training of practitioners.
Since December 15, 1995, the ASEAN has recognized and emphasized the growing importance of trade in services through the adoption of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) by the ASEAN Economic Ministers during the 5th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, according Leonen-Pizarro’s resolution.
The party-list lawmaker explained the AFAS seeks “to substantially eliminate restrictions to trade in services among ASEAN Member States, enhance cooperation in services, liberalize trade in services, and promote efficiency and competitiveness of ASEAN service suppliers.”
“It establishes the general guidelines for mutual recognition, denial of benefits, dispute settlement, institutional mechanism and other areas of cooperation in the services sector,” she added.
Article V of the AFAS provides “that the ASEAN Member States may recognize the education or experience obtained, requirements met, and licenses or certifications granted in other ASEAN Members States, for the purpose of licensing or certification of services suppliers,” the resolution said. - by Charissa Luci - Manila Bulettin
Showing posts with label East ASEAN Growth AREA (EAGA). Show all posts
Showing posts with label East ASEAN Growth AREA (EAGA). Show all posts
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Pres. Aquino urged to hasten full implementation of ASEAN accords on professional services
The Philippines has yet to fully implement the Mutual Recognition Agreements/Arrangement (MRAs) entered into among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states covering eight professional services.
The special House Committee on East ASEAN Growth AREA (EAGA), chaired by Hon. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza (Party-List, TUCP), has adopted, subject to form and style, House Resolution 1482 authored by Hon. Catalina G. Leonen-Pizarro (Party-List, ABS).
HR 1482 is entitled a "Resolution urging the Executive Department thru H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III to issue a Memorandum Circular to fully implement the MRAs entered by the ASEAN Member States such as the Brunei-Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines (BIMP-EAGA) and other ASEAN Member States affecting eight (8) professions in the country, including Engineering Services, Nursing Services, Architecture, Surveying, Medical Practice, Dental Practice, Accountancy and Tourism Services, ensuring enhancement measures and safety nets in the light of the ASEAN integration in 2015."
Leonen-Pizarro cited the following objectives behind the MRAs: 1) to facilitate mobility of practitioners with the ASEAN region; 2) to exchange information and enhance cooperation in respect of mutual recognition of practitioners; 3) promote adoption of best practices on standards and qualifications; and 4) to provide opportunities for capacity building and training of practitioners.
The eight professional services of which the Philippine Government is a signatory under an MRA with the ASEAN were concluded separately from December 9, 2005 to November 9, 2012, the author noted.
She recalled that since December 15, 1995 the ASEAN has recognized and emphasized the growing importance of trade in services through the adoption of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) by the ASEAN Economic Ministers during the 5th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
The AFAS aims to substantially eliminate restrictions to trade in services among ASEAN Member States, enhance cooperation in services, liberalize trade in services, and promote efficiency and competitiveness of ASEAN service suppliers.
The AFAS establishes the general guidelines for mutual recognition, denial of benefits, dispute settlement, institutional mechanism and other areas of cooperation in the services sector, she pointed out.
Article V of the AFAS, the House Resolution noted, provides that the ASEAN Member States may recognize the education or experience obtained, requirements met, and licenses or certifications granted in other ASEAN Members States, for the purpose of licensing or certification of services suppliers.
Leonen-Pizarro also noted that during the 9th ASEAN Summit held on October 7, 2003 in Bali, Indonesia, ASEAN Heads of States/Governments signed the Bali Accord II and declared the establishment of an ASEAN Community which comprises the political, economic, and security communities to include the completion of MRAs for qualifications for major professional services by 2008 to facilitate free movement of professional/skilled labour/talents in the ASEAN.
Furthermore, the author cited Executive Order No. 83, issued by the President on October 1, 2012, entitled "Institutionalization of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF)" to, among other vital objectives, "align the PQF with international qualifications framework to support the national and international mobility of workers through increased recognition of the value and comparability of Philippine qualifications."
Above other laws and issuances related to professional services, the authors noted that "Art. XII (National Economy and Patrimony), Sec. 14 par. (2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the practice of all professions in the Philippine shall be limited to Filipinos citizens, save in cases prescribed by law."
One vital reference statute on the subject is Republic Act No. 8981 otherwise known as the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000" which provides that Filipino and foreign professional practicing in the Philippines are regulated and screened by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) which is attached under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
By Dionisio P. Tubianosa, Media Relations Service-PRIB
The special House Committee on East ASEAN Growth AREA (EAGA), chaired by Hon. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza (Party-List, TUCP), has adopted, subject to form and style, House Resolution 1482 authored by Hon. Catalina G. Leonen-Pizarro (Party-List, ABS).
HR 1482 is entitled a "Resolution urging the Executive Department thru H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III to issue a Memorandum Circular to fully implement the MRAs entered by the ASEAN Member States such as the Brunei-Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines (BIMP-EAGA) and other ASEAN Member States affecting eight (8) professions in the country, including Engineering Services, Nursing Services, Architecture, Surveying, Medical Practice, Dental Practice, Accountancy and Tourism Services, ensuring enhancement measures and safety nets in the light of the ASEAN integration in 2015."
Leonen-Pizarro cited the following objectives behind the MRAs: 1) to facilitate mobility of practitioners with the ASEAN region; 2) to exchange information and enhance cooperation in respect of mutual recognition of practitioners; 3) promote adoption of best practices on standards and qualifications; and 4) to provide opportunities for capacity building and training of practitioners.
The eight professional services of which the Philippine Government is a signatory under an MRA with the ASEAN were concluded separately from December 9, 2005 to November 9, 2012, the author noted.
She recalled that since December 15, 1995 the ASEAN has recognized and emphasized the growing importance of trade in services through the adoption of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) by the ASEAN Economic Ministers during the 5th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
The AFAS aims to substantially eliminate restrictions to trade in services among ASEAN Member States, enhance cooperation in services, liberalize trade in services, and promote efficiency and competitiveness of ASEAN service suppliers.
The AFAS establishes the general guidelines for mutual recognition, denial of benefits, dispute settlement, institutional mechanism and other areas of cooperation in the services sector, she pointed out.
Article V of the AFAS, the House Resolution noted, provides that the ASEAN Member States may recognize the education or experience obtained, requirements met, and licenses or certifications granted in other ASEAN Members States, for the purpose of licensing or certification of services suppliers.
Leonen-Pizarro also noted that during the 9th ASEAN Summit held on October 7, 2003 in Bali, Indonesia, ASEAN Heads of States/Governments signed the Bali Accord II and declared the establishment of an ASEAN Community which comprises the political, economic, and security communities to include the completion of MRAs for qualifications for major professional services by 2008 to facilitate free movement of professional/skilled labour/talents in the ASEAN.
Furthermore, the author cited Executive Order No. 83, issued by the President on October 1, 2012, entitled "Institutionalization of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF)" to, among other vital objectives, "align the PQF with international qualifications framework to support the national and international mobility of workers through increased recognition of the value and comparability of Philippine qualifications."
Above other laws and issuances related to professional services, the authors noted that "Art. XII (National Economy and Patrimony), Sec. 14 par. (2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the practice of all professions in the Philippine shall be limited to Filipinos citizens, save in cases prescribed by law."
One vital reference statute on the subject is Republic Act No. 8981 otherwise known as the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000" which provides that Filipino and foreign professional practicing in the Philippines are regulated and screened by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) which is attached under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
By Dionisio P. Tubianosa, Media Relations Service-PRIB
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