Former Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

EDUCATION:

Doctor of Judicial Science (International Environmental Law) (Candidate, SJD) - Tulane

University Law School (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)
Master of Laws (LLM) - University of London (England) Specializing n Public
International Law - (with Merit) 2nd Honours)
Master of National Security Administration (MNSA) - National Defense College of the
Philippines (Ranked #6 out of 55 graduates)
Graduate Diploma in Public Administration - Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of
Public Service, New York University (New York City, USA)
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - Ateneo de Manila University Law School (1984)
Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) - Ateneo de Manila University (1980)

FORMER LGU POSITIONS:

Appointed OIC - City Mayor, Tagaytay City (1986-1988) after EDSA I Revolution
Elected Mayor of Tagaytay City for three (3) consecutive terms (1995-2004)
President, League of Cities of the Philippines (2001-2004)
Executive Vice President, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (2001-2004)

OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED:

Hague Academy of International Law (Netherlands) - 1989

RAND Graduate School, Sta. Monica, California, USA
General Staff Course (GSC) (one-year program) - Command and General Staff College,
Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio
The Brookings Institute, Washington, D.C. (2004)

LEGAL BACKGROUND:

Passed the 1984 Philippine Bar Exams with a General Average of 86.25% (with scores
of 94%, 95% and 100% in Labor Laws, Taxation and Criminal Law, respectively)
Passed the 1991 New York State Bar Exams
Practiced law with the Fornier and Defensor Law Offices, Padilla Law Offices (of the late
Justice Teodoro Padilla) and the Freeman Law Office (New York City)
Presently, Partner, Oraa, Ruaro and Tolentino Law Offices (Manila)
Member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
Member, New York County Lawyers Association
Member, American Bar Association Member, American Bar Association
Member, Natural Resources Defense Council (New York City)
Member, Tulane Environmental Law Society (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)
Member, American Constitution Society (Louisiana, USA)
Member, Bipartisan Policy Center (B.P.C.) (Washington, DC, USA)
 International
Trade Law

c a u ti o n ar y
Pr e
Pri nc i p l e
International
Environmental Law
 unilateral
measures
(national law)

bilateral
multilateral relationships
International
arrangements trade law (Canada-United
(GATT/WTO) States Free Trade
Agreement)

plurilateral
agreements
Internatio
nal trade
law
International trade is the exchange of services,
goods, and capital among various countries and
regions, without much hindrance[It] has
flourished over the years due to the many
benefits it has offered to different countries across
the globeInternational trade accounts for a good
part of a countrys gross domestic product. It is
also one of [the most] important sources of
revenue for a developing country . International
trade law is a very complex and an ever
expanding area. There are basically four levels of
international trade relationships: unilateral
measures (national law), bilateral relationships
(Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement),
plurilateral agreements, and multilateral
arrangements (GATT/WTO) . Each type of trade
relationship is governed by different rules and
regulations and institutions to keep them in place.
 unilateral
measures
(national
law)
Unilateral trade agreements would be any agreement that is
imposed on one nation by another, and benefits one nation
onlyThe World Trade Organization defines a unilateral trade
preference, or a preferential trade agreement, as any trade
agreement granted by one nation that isnt reciprocated in
return. An example of a unilateral trade agreement would be a
tariff, or tax, on imported goods. Conversely, the exemption
from paying a tariff would also be considered a unilateral trade
agreement. The definitive feature of a unilateral trade
agreement is that is benefits only one nation, not all involved.
For example, The EUs Generalised Scheme of Preferences
(GSP) allows developing country exporters to pay less or no
duties on their exports to the EU. This gives them vital access to
EU markets and contributes to their economic growth . The
GSP scheme, which was introduced in 1971, has been
implemented through successive Council regulations. The most
recent extensions of the scheme were initiated [in 2012] by
means of European Parliament and Council Regulation. The
unilateral trade measure is just one type of the various kinds of
relationships that exist between trading entities.
 bilateral
relationships
(Canada-United
States Free Trade
Agreement)
Bilateral trade agreements are between two nations at a time,
giving them favour[able] trading status with each other. The
goal is to give them expanded access to each others markets,
and increase each countrys economic growth . The European
Commission has noted that over the next few years, 90% of
world demand will be generated outside the EU. That is why it
is a key priority for the EU to open up more market
opportunities for European business . The EU currently has on-
going negotiations for bilateral trade agreements with the
United States; Japan; the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN); the Southern Mediterranean; Canada; India;
Mercosur; the Gulf Cooperation Council and African, Caribbean,
and Pacific countries (ACP). The negotiations for each region
are in various stages with the most notable bilateral agreement
being between the EU and the United States: the Transatlantic
Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The European
Commission, made up of 1 representative from each member
state within the EU, headed by Junker, negotiates on behalf of
the EU while The Office of the United States Trade
Representatives is the main negotiator for the US. Bilateral
trade relationships are governed by various units within the
respective countries that take part in the agreement.
 plurilateral
agreements
A plurilateral agreement is a multi-national trade or legal
agreement between multiple countries; it is a type of multilateral
agreement. This term is also used by the World Trade
Organization whereas WTO member countries would be given the
choice to agree to new rules on a voluntary basis. An example of
a plurilateral trade agreement is the Trade in Service Agreement
(TISA). Initiated by the United States and Australia, the TISA is
currently being negotiated in Geneva, Switzerland with 50
participants that represent 70 percent of the worlds trade in
services. [The European Commission proposed to the Council to
open negotiations]The last major services agreement, the
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) was established
by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 The TISA can
establish new market access commitments and universal rules
that reflect 21st century trade (See Source: The Trade in Service
Agreement). The objective of this plurilateral trade in services
agreement [is] to negotiate an ambitious agreement that is
compatible with the General Agreement on Trade in Services,
(GATS), which would attract broad participation and which could
be multilateralised at a later stage (See Source: Negotiations for
a Plurilateral Agreement). As seen, there are many governing
agents that oversee even one trade agreement. In this example,
the WTO, the European Commission and the European Council are
 multilateral
arrangements
(GATT/WTO)

Multilateral trade agreements are between

many nations at one time. This makes them
extremely complicated to negotiate, but
very powerful once all parties sign. The
primary benefit of multilateral agreements
is that all nations get treated equally. This
levels the playing field, especially for poorer
nations that are less competitive by due to
their size . The World Trade Organization
boasts a multitude of multilateral
agreements including ones on anti-
dumping, import licensing procedures and
trade related investment measures. The
complicated nature of multilateral
agreements makes them time-consuming
and difficult to negotiate. However, many
institutions take on the task of governing
these multilateral agreements as well as the
Environmental
laws are the standards that governments
establish to manage natural resources and
environmental quality. The broad categories of
natural resources and environmental quality
include such areas as air and water pollution, forests
and wildlife, hazardous waste, agricultural practices,
wetlands, and land use planning. In the our country
,there are acts that conserve and preserve our
environment. The body of environmental law
includes not only the text of these laws but also the
regulations that implement and the judicial decisions
that interpret this legislation.
The precautionary
principle, or precautionary
approach, is one of the foundational
principles of environmental law. As
articulated in Principle 15 of the Rio
Declaration on Environment and
Development (1992), it states: "Where
there are threats of serious or irreversible
damage, lack of full scientific certainty
shall not be used as a reason for
postponing cost-effective measures to
prevent environmental degradation." It has
been incorporated into numerous
international instruments, such as the
Convention on Biological Diversity and the
United Nations Framework Convention on
The Precautionary Principle is
defined as follows:
When human activities may lead to
morally unacceptable harm that is
scientifically plausible but uncertain,
actions shall be taken to avoid or
diminish that harm. Morally
unacceptable harm refers to harm
to humans or the environment that
is
threatening to human life or
health, or
serious and effectively
irreversible, or
inequitable to present or future
generations, or
Biotechnology
is the use of an organism, or a
component of an organism or
other biological system, to make
a product or process for a
specific use. it can include both
cutting-edge laboratory
techniques and traditional
agricultural and culinary
techniques that have been
practiced for hundreds of years.
It is the genetic modification of
living materials. It can be
What do you think of when you hear
the word biotechnology? Maybe
things youve seen in the news, such
as Dolly the cloned sheep, genetically
modified organisms, or gene therapy.
 GMO
Genetically

BIOTECHNOLOGY
modified
organisms
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM
(GMO) are plants or animals that
have been altered genetically by
artificial or scientific means. GMOs
are altered plants or animals due to
the introduction of a foreign
element or gene coming from
different species. It has been
shown that GMO plants are
LMO- living
resistant to pests or pesticide
attacks, and can grow quickly in
areas
modified
organism
LIVING MODIFIED ORGANISMS
(LMO) include organic food
products whose genes were
enhanced through the
introduction of genetic or non-
genetic materials, such as
hormone-enhanced beef.
The principal cause of the conflict surrounding
GMOs and LMOs is the doubt over the health and
environmental effects of manufacturing the said
products. Science is divided on the issue. While
many scientists believe that genetically-modified
foods are safe, some scientist maintain that
uncertainty about their effects on human health
justifies appropriate caution, including the
possible rise of trade restrictions
Producers of GM crops argue that biotechnology could be
the worlds cure for hunger. They cite biotechnologys
ability to produce high yields, resist natural disasters
such as drought and certain viruses, and enriched with
vital nutrients that starving people are likely to lack. On
the other hand, critics of biotechnology argue that world
hunger can be eliminated even by not utilizing
biotechnology. Hunger, they argue, is not only a function
of agricultural yield, it is also a function of mismanaged
government and a series of other factors, which
 INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
TRADE LAW LAW

The apparent source of the conflict

between international trade law and the
international environmental law stems from
the lack of universal coherence between
the two, apparently brought about by their
different objectives, governing institutions
and perhaps lack of genuine appreciation
by various players as to the two legal
systems rightful place in the world legal
order.
THANK YOU