Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Tuesday allayed concerns over the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and reiterated its call for the ratification of the free trade agreement.

In a media briefing in Malacañang, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan dismissed fears that the deal will be disadvantageous to local industries, particularly the agricultural sector.

\”With regards to the allegation that the agricultural sector will be hurt, there’s no truth to that,\” Balisacan told reporters. \”Whether or not there is RCEP, we need to invest in agriculture.\”

Balisacan added that by ratifying RCEP, the country will be \”even more forced to pay attention to agriculture because only then can you fully maximize the benefits that [it] can give to us.\”

Under RCEP, member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its trade partners Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea can export goods and services to each other at zero to low tariff rates.

While some lawmakers, including Senate President Migz Zubiri, expressed support for the measure, some groups pushed for further review to note its effects on Filipino farmers.

READ: Farmers’ group wants further review of RCEP

Balisacan, for his part, reiterated that the RCEP will be a \”game changer\” for the country’s economy.