Visiting Forces Agreement (US-RP)

VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) between the US and the country is a bilateral agreement between the two countries, with a goal of helping each other in all possible means and most importantly in military alliance. This has been implemented year 1998 up to now. all other facts were discussed in class and i will continue to explain what it is as i move one.

US being a super power and all other reasons why it is being glorified. Doesn't that make you wonder they still need to go make agreement with other countries like us? An answer to this question is because US needs ports, training facilities and logistical bases for their continuing participation, occupation of and war activities on different parts of the world. Philippines needs agreements like this because we are allies of the US and this would strengthen the bond we have with the US. Personally, i believe that this agreement is only one way when it comes to advantages. One -way in the sense that only the US will benefit from it and we suffer consequences that out numbers the benefits we could get, if there are any. One reason why i disagree to this agreement is 1) it is considered a bilateral agreement for the Philippines while it is only an executive order in the US. Why is this a big deal? because being it a bilateral agreement for the phil means that we value the agreement and that we thought of it many times before allowing it. When you say executive order, it means that it was only ordered by the president and the decision does not represent the decision of the country as a whole. another is that the special privileges we give to the US soldiers are too much. the same privileges that we give to ambassadors should be exclusive to ambassadors only because we all know their capabilities and their profession. but to give these to soldiers who hold guns and weapons, this should not be. another is them not being held reliable for the actions they are and will be doing in the country. Another is the hazard from nuclear arms brought by US warships and planes.

stating all this and other more, i call for a change in this agreement. I am not entirely against the idea but i think the contents of the agreement should be further thought about and be equal in getting benefits. I understand that we need the ally the US gives us but this should not set aside our national interests and safety of our people.