Military backs forging visiting forces agreement with Canada

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is backing a proposed visiting forces agreement with Canada, a military official said Wednesday, even as he confirmed that talks are ongoing for the cooperation pact. "Their intention to join exercises in the region is a welcome development as it would boost the security capability of the participant countries. However, necessary legal procedures and agreements must still be undertaken before such intention will be realized," AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto C. Torres, Jr. told BusinessWorld in a telephone interview. Last month, Rear Admiral Tyrone Pile, head of the Canadian naval fleet, said Ottawa was keen on participating in maritime security exercises in Asia-Pacific. Mr. Pile said Philippine security is important to Canada because the country is along maritime and oil routes from the Middle East to the Pacific and to North America. The country has visiting forces agreements with the United States and Australia. Meanwhile, the Canadian government donated 300 units of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear equipment worth $209,405 (P9.2 million at P44:$1) to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) for disaster response improvement. Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Robert Desjardins said Canadian authorities from the elite special action force and firemen will visit to provide training to soldiers and policemen on the use of the advanced gear. Glenn J. Rabonza, NDCC executive officer, said Canada and the US have earlier pledged to help enhance disaster response capability. "There was no other agenda laid out by the Canadian government. This was done out of their goodwill and their aim to forge stronger ties with the country," he told BusinessWorld. The frameworks of collaboration with Canada was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signing between Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. and Mr. Desjardins. — Jhoanna Frances S. Valdez, BusinessWorld