Still hoping

WHILE most US markets are slowly but surely easing their way out from the global economic hardship, Filipinos remain optimistic on the chances of retrieving the passage of the US Bill H.R. 3039 dubbed as the “Save Our Industries (SAVE) Act.”
The United States and the Philippines have shared a long and rich history together. Both countries have mutually benefited from strong economic and cultural ties that date back decades.
Recent years have brought significant challenges to the American textile industry and the Philippine apparel industry in particular and SAVE Act might be the solution the two economies are looking for to strengthen these industries.
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, introduced the SAVE Act in 2009 to encourage increased textile and apparel trade between the United States and the Philippines. He believes that “this is a win-win proposal in the finest tradition of the close and long-standing relationship of the two countries.”
The proposed inclusion of the Philippines in the Save Our Industries Act failed to pass in the 111th US Congress. The country is mounting another drive in the new US Congress but officials said they would prefer not to put their eggs in one basket.
The garments and textile industry remains to be one of the country’s top foreign exchange earners. The US is still the Philippines’ biggest market accounting for 81 percent of its total exports annually. The country, however, account for only 1.8 percent of US apparel imports.
The Department of Trade and Industry is keen on the local government’s efforts to revive the garments and textile industries after re-filing the SAVE Act in the US Congress last month.
Meanwhile, the Board of Investments (BOI) recently reported that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office is doubtful that the Save Act will be passed because the Philippines has labor and intellectual property rights issues. BOI director Thelma Murillo said that during a videoconference with USTR, the US emphasized the issues during the discussions for the SAVE Act.
Murillo also said that this is the bigger issue in the bid of the country to pass the Save Act before the US Congress. She said that the industry is willing to remove some of the contentious provisions in the bill to make it more palatable to the US government.
It is not too late. Industry players met last week to polish the bill. Likewise, prominent Filipinos, such as philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis and Rep. Manny Pacquiao, have already thrown their support for the Save Act.
Pacquiao is scheduled to leave for the US in first half of the year to solicit support of US congressmen and senators for the bill. The Filipino congressman will also meet with Fil-Am communities in key states to get their continued support of the SAVE Act, and seek commitments from their respective Congressmen and Senators to co-sponsor the legislation.
The SAVE Act is touted to help expand the commercial well-being and to sustain much needed jobs both in the US and in the Philippines. The legislation aims to protect and sustain thousands of existing jobs in both countries.
As most economies potentially reel away from post-recession clouds, hope shines brighter for the two countries and the SAVE Act. What is needed now is for the Philippine government and Filipinos in the US to inspire legislators—about the benefits SAVE Act will provide to Filipinos and Americans—to pass HR 3039 into law.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(Las Vegas March 10-16, 2011 Sec A pg.6)