Filipinos to get Portugal benefits in RP

MANILA, Philippines—Filipinos in Portugal will soon be able to avail themselves of the Portuguese social security benefits in the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

In its report to the department, the Philippine embassy in Lisbon said an agreement allowing for this cross-country implementation of social security benefits was finalized in Lisbon on May 28.

The first round of negotiations was held in October 2009. The agreement is expected to be signed in Manila in September 2010.

The draft Agreement “adopts the fundamental principles of international coordination of social security legislations, namely, equality of treatment, maintenance of the acquired rights, maintenance of the rights in the course of acquisition, export of benefits and mutual administrative cooperation between institutions, and covers, in general, the legislation of both countries on social protection against the contingencies of sickness and maternity, paternity and adoption, invalidity, old-age and death, accidents at work and occupational diseases.”

The Philippine Social Security System team took the opportunity to brief the Filipino community in Lisbon on the SSS Flexi-fund for overseas workers, as well as the future benefits of the agreement.

The gathering was held at the Philippine embassy which recently re-opened in Portugal after an absence of 35 years.

Philippines Ambassador to Portugal Teresita Barsana headed the Philippine delegation at the second round of negotiations for the proposed RP-Portugal Social Security Agreement. Social Security System (SSS) Commissioner Jose Sonny G. Matula, SSS Senior Vice President Judy Frances A. See as Chief Negotiator, and Atty. Roberto B. Bautista provided the technical expertise at the negotiations.

The Philippines has signed social security agreements with other European Union countries including Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. For Portugal, the agreement with the Philippines will be its first with an Asian country. –INQUIRER.net