A lawmaker called Sunday for the immediate passage of the bill that seeks to protect Filipino enterprises in the country against unfair foreign competition and trade practices, saying a law to carry out the constitutional mandate of protecting local entities amid international competition has yet to exist.

Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (3rd District, Negros Occidental), vice chair of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries, said enacting House Bill 6578, or the proposed “Filipino Enterprises Protection Act,” is imperative as there is no law yet to carry out Article 12, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, which guarantees protection of local entities.

Lacson explained that the bill’s principle is anchored on the rationale that although the State recognizes and respects the common goals of the regional and international treaties entered into by the Philippines with other countries like the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) and those under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the State will see to it that the right of its citizens to be protected against unfair foreign competition and trade practices will at all times and in all cases not be neglected.

“Given the proper legislative teeth to carry out the constitutional intent of Art. 12, Sec. 1 of the Constitution, I will ensure that the effects of AFTA do not result in unfair foreign competition and that the trade practices of our foreign partners, done with good or bad intentions, will not produce the unequal result that AFTA and GATT seek to correct,” Lacson said.

He said that knowing the best-laid plans and programs to develop kinks and unexpected consequences, President Gloria Arroyo earlier stressed the need for government to provide safety nets, to ensure that no Philippine enterprise or industry will suffer from an improper or misunderstood implementation of AFTA, GATT or similar international treaties.

HB 6578, Lacson said, would enable the state to fulfill the objective of Art. 12, Sec. 1 of the Constitution, while holding its international commitments.