The Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday announced that the Philippines and New Zealand have concluded negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA).
In a statement, Defense spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said DND Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo and New Zealand Ministry of Defense (MoD) Director Kathleen Pearce led the Philippine and New Zealand delegations, respectively.
He added that the final negotiating round held Tuesday was hosted by the New Zealand side via a hybrid arrangement.
“The Philippine negotiating panel was composed of Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Undersecretary Antonio Habulan Jr.; DND Assistant Secretaries Marita Yoro and Erik Lawrence Dy; Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretaries Aileen Mendiola-Rau and Patrick Chuasoto and Officer-in-Charge Paulo Saret; and Department of Justice (DOJ) State Counsels Ma. Pamelyn Omalin, Dave Fatalla, and Albert Abragan,” Andolong said.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand side was composed of representatives from the MoD, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, who participated virtually from Wellington.
Andolong said New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh and other embassy officials also joined the delegation.
“After finalizing the text of the Agreement, both sides expressed optimism toward the signing of the agreement in the second quarter of 2025. A SOVFA between the Philippines and New Zealand will bolster defense and military ties between the two countries, enabling the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to conduct exercises in each other’s territories,” he added.
The first round of talks for the Philippines and New Zealand SOVFA took place in Manila on Jan. 23.
“The first round of negotiations marked an important step in strengthening bilateral defense ties between the Philippines and New Zealand. A commitment to conclude a SOVFA was among the key outcomes agreed between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the latter’s visit to Manila in April 2024,” the DND earlier said.
The SOVFA will reinforce the memorandum of arrangement between the DND and the AFP with the MoD of New Zealand concerning Defence Cooperation, which was signed in 2017.
The DND said the successful conclusion of this agreement will be a significant milestone for the overall bilateral relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, which would mark 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2026. (PNA)