By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Aug. 17 (PNA) — The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill imposing stricter controls on the transfers of dual-use goods, controlled goods and technologies which may be used for weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Voting 17-0, the Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2762 which the government would “establish a sound regulatory and organizational structure that would address both our need to pursue economic advancement in global trade and to strengthen our country’s internal security.”
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, was the main sponsor of the bill. Senators Grace Poe and Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero co-authored it.
Senate President Franklin Drilon said the bill was in support of government efforts “to fight terrorism and safeguard public and national security interests.”
Trillanes said that without the proper legislation like SBN 2762 in place, the Philippines “risks the destruction of lives and properties and the security of our country, should the same fall in the wrong hands.”
“We also risk involving our country in terroristic acts and schemes through the transfer of materials across our borders,” he added.
Trillanes said the proposed law would mandate the creation of a National Strategic Goods List, which would “describe with specificity the strategic goods and technologies to be subjected under government control and authorization.”
He added the bill would also establish a National Security Council (NSC) – Strategic Management Committee to act as a central authority on all matters relating to strategic trade management, particularly focusing on the country’s international commitment towards the promotion of a secure and safe environment for trade in strategic goods.
Also to be activated under the SBN 2762 is the Strategic Trade Management Office (STMO) which will serve as the executive and technical agency of the national government to handle the national management systems for the trade in strategic goods.
“Any person who intends to engage in the export, import, transit, and transshipment of strategic goods or the provision of related services shall be required to obtain an authorization from STMO,” Trillanes said.
According to Trillanes, the Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 which obliges all UN member States to enforce measures against proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and their delivery systems.
In the Philippines, the control, regulation, and licensing activities that deal with prohibited and regulated items, are currently being implemented by various government agencies, he said.
At the moment, Trillanes said, the Philippines does not have a comprehensive system that covers the entire list of controlled items under multilateral export control regimes. (PNA)