Senate ratifies Philippines SOVFA with Canada, New Zealand

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate yesterday unanimously ratified the Status of Visiting Forces Agreements (SOVFA) between the Philippines and Canada, as well as New Zealand, in a 19-0 vote with no objections or abstentions.

Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senators Loren Legarda, Ronald dela Rosa, Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada were absent during the vote.

Former foreign affairs committee chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who sponsored the agreements, thanked colleagues and executive agencies following the landmark vote.

Voting in favor of the Canada agreement under Proposed Senate Resolution 548, Sen. Joel Villanueva emphasized the treaty’s role in bolstering national defense.

“This agreement provides a clear legal framework for cooperative activities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Canadian Armed Forces, including training and exercises, while strengthening interoperability, military coordination, knowledge transfer and cooperation between our two countries,” Villanueva said.

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