Italy–Philippines relations

Italy-Philippines relations

Italy
Philippines

Italy–Philippines relations refer to the interstate and bilateral relations between Italy and the Philippines. The bilateral relations between Italy and the Philippines was established on 9 July 1947.[1]

Bilateral relations

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on 2 December 2015.

The People Power Revolution in 1986 marked the beginning of expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries. Italy was the first country to recognize the Presidency of Corazon Aquino in the Philippines. Italy and the Philippines have signed several agreements, including in scientific and technical cooperation, air services, taxation, investments, development cooperation, culture, social security, small and medium enterprises, transportation and communications, and defense.[2] The Philippines has welcomed a huge Italian business mission. The Confederation of Italian Industries, Italy's biggest association of manufacturing and services companies. The delegation also had parallel sectoral programs on trading, infrastructure and energy. Business-to-business meetings were also arranged between Italian and Philippine companies.[3] In December 2015, a bilateral air transport agreement was signed between the two countries during the visit of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to Rome to allow for the expansion of trade and tourism ties.[4]

Filipinos in Italy

Filipinos form the fourth-largest migrant community in Italy, after the Romanian, Albanian, and North African communities. Italy is also the joint largest European migration destination for Filipinos.[5] The Italian capital Rome is home to the largest Filipino community. Roughly 108,000 Filipinos reside in Italy legally as temporary workers or permanent residents, and estimates on the number of illegal Filipinos vary widely from 20,000 to 80,000.[6] In 2008, ISTAT (Istituto Nazionale di Statistica), Italy’s statistics office, reported that there were 113,686 documented Filipinos living in Italy whereas the number had been 105,675 in 2007.[7] 63% of Filipino Italians are women and they mostly work as domestic assistants. The Filipino Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) says that Italy allows 5000 non-seasonal/regular workers, up from 3000 in 2007.[8] The DOLE said that the change was "a sign of appreciation of the good bilateral cooperation with the Philippines in migratory issues." There are approximately 60 Filipino organisations in Italy, most of which are church-based, although there are several cultural and civic groups as well.[9] One of such groups is the Filipino Women's Council with the aim of educating Filipino women migrants about their rights and lobbying on their behalf.[10] In 2007, Italy gave Filipinos with a Filipino driver's license a free Italian driver's license.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Treaty of Friendship and General Relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Italian Republic" (PDF). Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Philippines - Italian Relations". Philippine Embassy Rome. March 30, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Philippines welcomes first Italian business mission in 65 years". SunStar. November 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ de Leon, Patricia (3 December 2015). "PH signs air services pact with Italy to beef up trade, tourism ties". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Filipino migration" (PDF). UN. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Dancel, Joshua (25 September 2002). "Get amnesty before Italy kicks you out, OFWs told". Sun Star Manila. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  7. ↑ "80,000 more Filipinos in Italy in 2008". ABS CBN News. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  8. ↑ Uy, Veronica (18 December 2007). "More jobs for Filipinos in Italy, says DoLE". Global Nation. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  9. ↑ "PGMA's Italy visit brightens hope for early accord on 3 RP proposals on Filipino workers". Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. 2006. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  10. ↑ "Life in Italy is no Dolce Vita". Isis International. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "OFWs in Italy receive 2 unexpected gifts during President's visit". PLDT. 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
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