Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) — Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Tuesday bared plans to retire from politics after his six-year term as senator ends in 2028.
He mentioned this during the Senate’s first hearing on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade agreement among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its partner countries.
Amid opposition from farmers’ groups, Zubiri said the local agriculture sector will have at least 10 years to adapt before the full implementation of RCEP once it is ratified.
“If we do not improve within those 10 years, then talagang shame on us as a country (then it’s a shame on us as a country),” Zubiri said.
“That’s 2033, I won’t even be in politics anymore, I’m gonna retire after this term,” he added.
The Federation of Free Farmers reiterated its call for the Senate not to concur with the ratification of the RCEP, saying doing so will turn the Philippines into a country dependent on importation or “Ukay-Ukay Republic.”
Asec. Allan Gepty of the Department of Trade and Industry stressed that the government is careful in its negotiations, and promised to exempt from lower tariff rates products considered “sensitive” to Filipino farmers, including onions.
