Why the Philippines should NEVER accept the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (#TPP)

Much has been said about the #TPP. It's the buzz around the business and corporate sectors the world over. As far as the general public is concerned, less is known about the #TPP. It is shrouded in secrecy and dare I say, subterfuge worthy of Cold War tactics.

On October 5, 2015, WikiLeaks published a leaked draft of the Intellectual Property portion of the #TPP. That's unfortunately just a part of the still unknown draft of the #TPP. One thing that is suspicious about the #TPP is that the US initiated and drafted initiative is open only to the participating countries (12 as of date) and the US corporations it is originally intended to benefit. NGO's and other citizen organizations have been conveniently excluded from even an observer status in its deliberations.

Protests in countries that have signed onto its provisions have been rife over the past year. Indeed, vehement protests have been observed in Malaysia, Australia and Japan. Academics have even decried the #TPP as anti-consumer, pro-US corporate profits and will make it hard for ordinary citizens in developing counties quality access to generic medications.

One disturbing by-product of the #TPP is the added cost it will eventually add to the price of generic medications. In fact, it could endanger the lives of ordinary citizens across the developing world. Again, a WikiLeaks report indicates it would "harm public health by blocking patient access to lifesaving medicines." In the same leaked report, Peter Maybarduk of the Public Citizen's Global Access to medicines program said to wit: "If the #TPP is ratified, people in Pacific Rim countires would have to live by the rules in this leaked text. The new monopoly rights for big pharmaceutical firms would compromise access in #TPP countries. The #TPP would cost lives (emphasis supplied)."

It is clear that for ordinary citizens, the #TPP is a killer initiative, literally! Millions of people will lose access to cheap generic drugs, governments would be forced to pay for profits lost due to regulations that may affect corporate profits of pharmaceutical companies.

Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel winning economist, even indicated the #TPP presented "grave risks" and "serves the interest of the wealthiest" (check). Even US Senator Bernie Sanders denounced the #TPP  as  nothing more than a golden goose and a milking cow for US corporations at the expense of the ordinary American worker.

Pundits have criticized the #TPP for its overemphasis on promoting the best interests of US corporations while neglecting the environment, access to cheap medications and curtails the sovereign rights of nations by forcing said nations to conform their respective laws and regulations to the #TPP. In fact, investors can sue governments who violate the provisions of the #TPP, a clear infringement on the right of the Philippine government to be exempt from suit without its consent  as stipulated in the 1987 Constitution.

In short, if the Philippines signs the #TPP, only hardships can be gained by the already impoverished Filipino masses. Nothing good for even Filipino corporations can be gained from the #TPP, especially since said corporations were never consulted and made privy to the legalese of its complicated provisions. Filipinos WILL LOSE BIG if the government signs the #TPP, not to mention we will sacrifice our SOVEREIGN RIGHTS as a nation in favor of greedy multinational corporations that are mostly American!