May 8, 2012

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 082-12

RESOLUTION CONCURRING IN THE RATIFICATION OF THE CONSULAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

WHEREAS, the Constitution, Article VII, Section 21, states that, "No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate"; aEDCSI

WHEREAS, the Agreement was signed on 29 October 2009 in Manila;

WHEREAS, under the Agreement, the consular post may be established with the consent of the receiving State and the determination of the seat of the consular post, its classification and its consular district, as well as any changes pertaining thereto, shall be through consultation between the sending State and the receiving State;

WHEREAS, the Philippines and China mutually undertake to accord full facilities for the performance of the functions of a consular post and extend privileges and immunities to consular officers and their family;

WHEREAS, the Agreement provides that it applies to Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China;

WHEREAS, the President of the Philippines ratified the Consular Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China on 31 March 2011 and has accordingly submitted it to the Senate for concurrence in accordance with the Philippine Constitution;

WHEREAS, in the hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on 23 February 2012, the following government agencies and nongovernment organizations endorsed the concurrence in the ratification of the Consular Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China:

1. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);

2. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);

3. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

4. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); EDCcaS

5. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA);

6. Center for Migrant Advocacy Philippines (CMA); and

7. Philippine Migrants Rights Watch.

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate of the Philippines concur, as it hereby concurs, in the ratification of the Consular Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China.

Adopted,

(SGD.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE
President of the Senate

This Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 8, 2012.

(SGD.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES
Senate Secretary