PH, Canada sign visiting forces pact

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer

CONVERGENCE. The Philippines and Canada signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) in Makati City on Sunday (Nov. 2, 2025). (Photo from Department of National Defense – Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine and Canadian governments signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) in Makati City on Sunday, November 2, reinforcing the military ties between the two nations.

The defense pact was signed by Canada’s National Defence Minister David McGuinty and the Philippines’ National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. The signing was in accordance with the Canada-Philippines Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2024.

In a joint press conference, the two heads of defense spoke with a shared commitment to promoting peace and solidarity in the region.

“Beyond this agreement, we recognize its strategic value of expanding cooperation in critical areas such as maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and cyber defense capability,” Teodoro said.

McGuinty underscored that the agreement not only reflects progress but also how “peace is built on rules, not recklessness. [And how] stability grows on cooperation, not confrontation.”

He referred to Canada’s defense agreement with the Philippines as its first with an Asian nation.

“Finalizing the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines’ Department of National Defence marks a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between our two nations, built on more than 75 years of diplomatic ties,” McGuinty said.

He also added that Canada values the country’s vital role in the Indo-Pacific region and it “remains committed to deepening our defence and security cooperation for regional stability and shared prosperity.”

Teodoro noted that the SOVFA will only take effect after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ratifies it, followed by the Philippine Senate’s concurrence.

This marks Canada as the fifth country to have established a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines—joining the preceding pacts made with the United States of America in 1998, Australia in 2007, Japan in 2024, and New Zealand in April this year.