‘Improvement’ in VFA talks cited; approval now up to PRRD

MANILA – Hopes are up for the continuation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) as Philippine Ambassador to Washington, DC Jose Manuel Romualdez cites “improvement” in the series of negotiations since its termination was suspended in November 2020.

“In the provisions, I’m afraid I don’t have the details but I know there’s been an improvement, a lot of time has been spent by both our countries and panels to discuss some of the things that they wanted to improve in that agreement,” the Filipino envoy told reporters in a virtual presser on Friday.

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law said representatives from both nations had “productive” and “very good conversations” on VFA over a series of weeks, where specific proposals to clarify and strengthen its implementation have been made.

“[We’re] currently awaiting a decision from President Duterte so the status is that we are awaiting the Philippine government’s decision… We think that the VFA has been a fundamental part of helping make the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty) successful and we are committed to the success of our alliance with the Philippines,” he said.

Romualdez, meanwhile, is hopeful that the VFA would continue as it gives “more teeth” to the two nations’ MDT and remains part of a “bigger picture of our relations”.

“It’s now in the Office of the President and I expect it to come out anytime now,” he said.

“The VFA is very important for the MDT to be operational and gives it a little more teeth actually. So we’ve had it for a number of years and we’re very hopeful, hopefully confident that the President will approve the continuance of the VFA,” he added.

The government in February 2020 formally terminated the VFA, which exempts American troops from passport and visa regulations upon entry and departure from the Philippines.

The abrogation was then suspended for six months twice, the second one of which was announced last November 2020.