MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) announced Friday, March 7, that negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with Canada have concluded. The deal is “set for signing,” said the department although it did provide specific details.
“Following the 75th anniversary of Philippines-Canada diplomatic relations in 2024, the two nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through the conclusion of the SOVFA. This agreement will establish a framework for increased cooperation, fostering closer collaboration between defense and military establishments, improving interoperability between forces, and facilitating more effective joint exercises and capacity-building activities,” said the DND in a release to the media.
A SOVFA would make it easier for troops from both countries to enter each others’ territories for activities like bilateral or even multilateral military exercises. A SOVFA defines, among others, the laws that apply to soldiers deployed to a host country, and the rules that would govern their stay and deployment to their host country.
Both Ottawa and Manila have long signaled a desire to grow closer, particularly when it comes to security and defense.
The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation in January 2024, months after Ottawa gave Manila access to its proprietary Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) System. The DVD system allows Philippine maritime forces — from the Navy to the civilian Philippine Coast Guard — to monitor Philippine waters better, including ships that turn off their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders.
The Philipine delegation was led by DND Undersecretary Angelito M. De Leon and composed of Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Undersecretary Antonio Habulan Jr.; DND Assistant Secretaries Marita I. Yoro and Erik Lawrence Dy; Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretaries Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga and Patrick Chuasoto and Officer-in-Charge Paulo Saret; and Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Raul Vasquez and Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan,
Canada’s delegation was led by Assistant Deputy Minister Scott Millar and was composed of officials from the Canadian embassy in Manila, Canada’s DND, and Global Affairs Canada.
“The Philippines looks forward to the positive impact of the SOVFA, which is expected to contribute to peace, stability, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The DND remains committed to working closely with international partners to safeguard national interests and strengthen security efforts in the region,” said the Philippines’ DND in a statement.
Philippine sources earlier told Rappler that the SOVFA is expected to be signed by mid-2025. It needs to be ratified by the Philippine Senate and its Canadian counterpart before the agreement takes effect.
The Philippine-Canada SOVFA is the second that’s been concluded in the first quarter of 2025 alone. The Philippine DND earlier announced that negotiations for a SOVFA with New Zealand had also concluded. France has also submitted a draft for a possible SOVFA between Paris and Manila.
Manila has been keen on expanding its network of security and economic ties, especially as it deals with an incresaingly aggressive neighbor in the superpower China.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, including the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, an area that’s part of the West Philippine Sea.
At sea, China’s claim has sometimes meant danger for Filipinos — from fisherfolk, personnel fo the PCG, and the Philippine Navy.
The Philippines has two existing visiting forces agreements in place — the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States and a SOVFA with Australia. In 2024, Manila signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan. The RAA will take effect once it is ratified by the Japanese Diet. – Rappler.com