The RP-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) is a bilateral agreement between the governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the Commonwealth of Australia concerning the status of visiting forces from each state while in the territory of the other state. The agreement was signed in Canberra

Canberra

Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...

, Australia on 31 May 2007 by Philippine Defense Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr.

Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr.

Hermogenes Edejer Ebdane, Jr. is a Filipino politician and retired General. He is the Current Governor of Zambales. He was the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways from 4 July 2007-2010, his second appointment to the post.He was a member of the Philippine Military Academy class...

 and his Australian counterpart Defence Minister Brendan Nelson

Brendan Nelson

Dr Brendan John Nelson is a former Australian politician and former federal Opposition leader. He served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives from the 1996 federal election until 19 October 2009 as the Liberal member for Bradfield, a northern Sydney seat...

. The signing was witnessed by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Australian Prime Minister John Howard

John Howard

John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....

.

Under Article XVIII, Section 25 of the Philippine constitution

Constitution of the Philippines

The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...

, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities may only be allowed in the Philippines under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate

Senate of the Philippines

The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...

.
A press release issued October 3, 2007 by the Philippine Senate announced that senators Mar Roxas

Mar Roxas

Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II is a former Senator of the Philippines. He is the son of former Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of former President Manuel Roxas and industrialist J. Amado Araneta....

 and Jinggoy Estrada

Jinggoy Estrada

Jose Pimentel Ejercito, Jr. , better known as Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, is a Filipino politician and former film actor who has been a member of the Senate of the Philippines since 2004...

 called the attention of the Office of the President

President of the Philippines

The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...

to its failure to officially transmit this agreement for Senate concurrence. , the Australian government considers the agreement to be "awaiting ratification by the Philippine Senate."