RP, Australia mull social security deal

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:37:00 10/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino-Australian pensioners could soon receive their pensions in the Philippines without much restriction as part of a social security agreement being set up by the Philippines and Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

In a statement, the DFA said the proposed accord has been elevated to the Australian federal government, adding the Philippine embassy in Canberra leads in the negotiations with the support of other Philippine government agencies like the Social Security System.

The agreement is being pushed by the Philippine Community Council (PCC) of New South Wales, the Sydney Australian-Filipino Seniors Inc. (SAFSI), Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCAA), and the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney in cooperation with the Australian Federal Members of Parliament, the DFA said.

Australia has entered into similar bilateral agreements with other countries.

As part of this effort, PCC and SAFSI conducted a massive signature campaign last July to rally support of Filipino-Australians for the proposed agreement.

The petitions were transmitted to Members of Parliament Roger Price and Chris Hayes who endorsed it to Federal Minister Jenny Macklin of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

In response, Macklin said the proposed agreement was probable, saying the Philippine and Australian social security systems are compatible and "the agreement is likely to be mutually beneficial." She said her office will continue to study the proposal.

The proposed social security agreement is part of the agenda in the Second Philippine-Australian Ministerial Meeting (PAMM) scheduled next week.

As of December 2007, there were 250,347 Filipinos in Australia, government records show. Of the number, 221,892 are permanent residents, 19,455 temporary, and 9,000 irregular.