MANILA, Philippines—There is a malady called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or ADHD), which is characterized by “a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility.” No offense meant to the 3-5 percent of the world’s population under 19 who are suffering from such an affliction, or to the adults who have also been so diagnosed (about 50 to 60 percent of the afflicted children reportedly carry it into adulthood)—but wouldn’t you say that such a pattern of behavior is also descriptive of what is happening, if not to the Senate as a whole, to quite a number of its members? This doesn’t mean that this behavior is not exhibited in the House of Representatives as well; it’s just that one doesn’t get to witness the deliberations in that chamber as much.

Come on, now. Recall the six-, seven-, eight-, 10- and even 11-hour Senate hearings that have practically glued us to our television sets a number of times over the past decade or so. The examples of “poor impulse control or impulsivity” that we have witnessed during those occasions are actually too numerous to mention—sneering at and/or browbeating witnesses (particularly, unfortunately, those who are least able to defend themselves: the young, the inexperienced, the lowly, the absent), making outrageous statements not befitting the (supposed) dignity of their office, staging temper tantrums directed at witnesses, each other, and even innocent bystanders in the gallery.

Who among us have not rolled our eyes, either literally or figuratively, when questions are repeatedly asked even when they have already been answered? The repeated questions indicate either forgetfulness, inattention or “distractibility” on the part of the interrogator. And all those hearings “in aid of legislation,” which may be indicative of hyperactivity, unfortunately, more often than not, never see the light of day in the form of committee reports, and if they do, remain un-acted upon anyway, because some other issue gets in the way of their attention?

That some senators exhibit ADD-like symptoms is unfortunate for them. But when the Senate as a whole exhibits the same, it is unfortunate for us, because we are affected negatively by the inattention, the forgetfulness, and the distractibility. The most recent example is the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, or JPEPA. The agreement was signed by the two governments way back in September 2006, which means 21 months ago. By constitutional provision, the Senate must ratify it. And so hearings were conducted, and finally completed.

To summarize what was determined at those hearings: On the benefit side, trade and investment improvements resulting in more employment and income, lower prices, and finally poverty reduction. On the cost side, reduction in tariff revenues, shutdown and resultant job losses of firms that cannot compete even after a 10-year grace period. All magnitudes quantified. Assertions about toxic waste and environmental damage baseless. In effect, benefits greater than costs.

Yet, as of today, the Senate still has not ratified it, even as similar agreements are already in force between Japan and Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and even Vietnam (in the works, if not already in force), as far as ASEAN is concerned. The irony of it all is that the Philippines was Japan’s first choice as an economic partner in these parts, in this attempt at achieving bilaterally what still cannot be achieved multilaterally—a framework of cooperation covering not only movements of goods and services but of labor and capital as well, between the two countries. It was with us that Japan first negotiated, and yet, because of the Senate’s ADD symptoms, we have allowed all the others to get ahead of us. Distraction. Inattention.

The irony of it all is that leading representatives of agriculture, industrial and service sectors (20 of the leading business organizations in the Philippines), have set aside their pro- or anti-Gloria (Macapagal-Arroyo) sentiments and have recommended the treaty’s ratification because of the positive net benefits. Yet the Senate has ignored all of that, as well as the recommendations of the government’s top think tank (the Philippine Institute for Development Studies) which studied the issues thoroughly. Distraction. Inattention.

The tragedy of it all is that the Philippines, among the other countries mentioned above, has attracted the least amount of foreign investments, so that one would think that it would jump at the chance to enhance the investment climate for Japanese investors. Yet, by golly, our Senate decided to play hard-to-get, even while the other countries have grabbed at the opportunity presented to them, and are already benefiting from this open (relatively)-door policy of Japan (which realized that it was getting left behind by the United States and its own free-trade agreements, such as the one with Mexico).

The tragedy of it all is that the effect of not ratifying the agreement will be not only that we don’t reap the net benefits of it, but that we will actually be harmed. Whatever investments we would normally expect to come our way from Japan will be diverted to other countries that have shown themselves to be more receptive. The Philippines will be an even less attractive investment destination.

How does one get the attention of an inattentive, distracted, forgetful, impulsive body?