On 31 May 2007, in Canberra, the Philippines and Australia sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) — the bilateral framework for troops temporarily in each other’s territory.

Signatories: Philippine Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, witnessed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Prime Minister John Howard.

The Philippine Constitution requires Senate concurrence for foreign troops. The Senate ratified the agreement on 24 July 2012 (17–1); it entered into force on 28 September 2012.

SOVFA regulates jurisdiction, immunities and logistics for exercises and military visits without creating permanent bases.

For Southeast Asia, 2007 deepened the Australia–Philippines security partnership amid counter-terror cooperation and South China Sea disputes.

The official text appears in the Australian Government treaty collection.

The SOVFA of 31 May 2007 remains the visiting-forces status framework between the Philippines and Australia.

Image: Canberra; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Philippines–Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement. Treaty text: Agreement concerning the Status of Visiting Forces (AustLII).