Philippines-Australia visiting forces agreement ratified

July 25, 2012 Filed under Global Posted by TFA Editor

The Senate yesterday ratified the Status of Visiting Forces with Australia by adopting Senate Resolution 788 which concurs with President Benigno Aquino III’s ratification of the agreement.

Yesterday’s ratification, reported by GMA News, had the Senate voting 17-1 with Senator Joker Arroyo registering the lone dissenting voice.

The GMA News reported that Senator Arroyo argued:’Are we trying to say that other than the US, we also have other allies like Australia? ASEAN, our regional friends and geographically close to us, hesitate to lend us their token support. [So] why should we enlist Australia, which is so far away and an out and out ally of the US to be our ally too?’

Obververs said that the ratification ‘would improve regional security, and not just enhance Philippine defense at a time of growing tension with China.’

The Philippines-Australia agreement was the centre of discussion in the Filipino Australian community over the last four weeks, particularly in relation to the Scarborough Shoal stand-off.

Community leaders campaigned in the community for its ratification including a blog by GFA chair Lolita Farmer, and a community awareness program through online publications and social media circles by Australian Military Police Reserve major Tom Baena and TFA publisher Romy Cayabyab.

3 Responses to Philippines-Australia visiting forces agreement ratified

Lolita Farmer

July 25, 2012 - 1:43 pm

Thank you Romy, Tom and community for the support you have all given. May I also thank the online comments sent through this website. Positive and inspirational.

I think it is time to send our appreciation to the senators.

Global Filipinos Australia (GFA) will be sending a letter expressing thank you and appreciation to the senators for the action taken. A letter of appeal for SOVFA ratification was sent to the senators so it is just proper that we thank them.

SOVFA will enhance bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Australia.

Now let us offer our support to SOVFA.

Mabuhay!

Violi

July 28, 2012 - 10:31 pm

As John Donne wrote: “No man is an island. Entire of itself…..” This philosophy is observed by both Philippines and Australia and other countries with similar ‘memorandum of agreement’. It a recognition of the need to have such arrangements which are of mutual benefits to them.

Kudos to those who helped even in the smallest way in the campaign to have this resolution ratified. We have work to do to have the Right to Information [Freedom of Information] ratified too.

Lolita Farmer

July 29, 2012 - 2:06 pm

The Philippines I understand has other agreements with other countries.

SOVFA however is distinct in that it addresses the ills in other mutual agreements.

The community reacted positively to SOVFA though some exerted extra miles.

FOI passage at Congress is in the eyes of the global Filipinos. This is one bill where Filipinos in diaspora have to act in unison.It needs the Prseident’s action to be included in his priority bills.Passage of FOI will signify transparebcy and good governance.

We keep our fingers fingers crossed.