Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
 
 
 
 
    Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. 9603
Introduced by HON. EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 
AN ACT DECLARING EVERY SECOND DAY OF MARCH OF EVERY YEAR AS 
PHILIPPINE-NORWAY FRIENDSHIP DAY COMMEMORATING THE 75TH 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE 
PHILIPPINES AND NORWAY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
The Philippines and Norway have a long history of cooperation, 
established through the maritime sector, eventually transcending to other 
business, labor migration, and peace and reconciliation efforts. 
 
As a testament to such long standing cooperation, the Philippines and 
Norway will be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of their 
diplomatic relations this 2023.  
 
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Norway have been 
characterized by robust economic activities, strengthened political ties, and 
people-to-people cooperation since its inception on March 2, 1948. 
 
The Philippine Embassy in Oslo opened on 30 April 2007 (covering all 
Nordic countries), while the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Manila 
opened in 1967. 
 
True to its beginnings, the maritime sector is one of the most important 
aspects of the Philippines and Norway relations, reflected by the continuous 
employment of Filipino seafarers onboard Norwegian owned or controlled 
vessels, and the establishment of the Norwegian Shipowners Association 
November 21, 2023
6:45 am


Philippines Cadet Program. A number of Norwegian shipping companies 
have offices in the Philippines. 
 
On labor and workforce, Norwegian shipping companies employ about 
25,000 Filipino seafarers aboard their ships accounting for one third of the 
total number of seafarers on Norwegian controlled vessels. 
 
The Norwegian Maritime Authority is currently assisting the Philippine 
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in an attempt to ensure that 
maritime/seafarer education is in compliance with the International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for 
Seafarers (STCW). 
 
On business, economic, and trade relations, the Philippines and 
Norway are partners in the following vital areas: the energy and power sector, 
including renewable energy sources, aquaculture, maritime technology, 
organic farm market opportunities, IT services, telecommunications, 
academic 
exchange 
among 
educational 
institutions, 
women 
entrepreneurship, and social security, labor, and migration projects. 
 
On immigration and integration, there are approximately 18,000 very 
well-integrated Filipinos living in Norway with a high level of participation in 
the workforce while a substantial number of Norwegians are living in the 
Philippines doing business and charitable work. 
 
In the furtherance of unity and human rights, the Philippines and 
Norway have always shown mutual support to each other: Norway expressed 
support to the first-ever national-level UN Joint on Human Rights, a three-
year UN joint programme developed to implement Human Rights Council 
(HRC) resolution 45/33 (adopted on 7 October 2020) which outlined specific 
areas for capacity-building and technical cooperation for the promotion and 
protection of human rights in the Philippines.  
 
In reconciliation efforts, Norway has been the third-party facilitator in 
the peace negotiations between the Philippine Government (GPH) and the 
Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic 
Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).  
 
In promoting peace, Norway also supports the Bangsamoro peace 
process. Norway participates as the Vice Chair of the Independent 
Decommissioning Body (IDB) responsible for overseeing the post-conflict 
decommissioning efforts of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 
weapons and combatants, and formerly in the International Monitoring Team 
(IMT) that observed and maintained the ceasefire between the GPH and 
MILF. 
 
In International Agreements and Policy, diplomatic relations between 
the Philippines and Norway have resulted to the following agreements: 


1.
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Member States,
consisting of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland; signed
a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Philippines in Bern,
Switzerland, on 28 April 2016. The EFTA-Philippines FTA entered into
force on 1 June 2018 for the Philippines, Norway, Liechtenstein and
Switzerland and on 1 January 2020 for Iceland;
2.
Agreement on Maritime Transport between the Government of the
Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Kingdom of
Norway (22 October 1999);1
3.
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the
Philippines and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway
regarding assistance to the Maritime Industry Authority (03 May
1996);2
4.
Memorandum of Understanding on trade textiles between the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government
of the Kingdom of Norway (07 October 1978);3
5.
Convention between and the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic
of the Philippines for the avoidance of double taxation and the
prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on
capital (9 July 1987);4
5. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway regarding the 
development of suitable water power schemes in the electricity 
supply system in selected areas of the Philippines (15 May 1979); and, 
5
6.
Air Transport Agreement Between the Philippines and the Kingdom
of Norway (08 May 1969).6
 
Norway, in the past 75 years, has shown immense support, 
participation, and effort, in advancing the Philippines ’national development 
and interest of the Filipino people. 
 
Norway has proven to be one of the Philippines ’strongest allies in the 
pursuit of economic stability, peace and cooperation, and human rights 
protection. 
1 Norwegian Government Security and Service Organisation, available at www.regjeringen.no 
https://www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/upload/nhd/vedlegg/skipsfartsavtaler/philippines.pdf (last 
accessed 10 February 2023). 
2 Supreme Court E-library, available at 
https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/35/12514 . (last accessed 10 February 2023). 
3 Senate Resolution No. 719 (s-1978), as cited in the Senate Legislative Digital Resources, available at 
https://issuances-library.senate.gov.ph/treaties/philippine-treaty-series-no-719 (last accessed 10 
February 2023). 
4 SAS Accounting Firm Philippines: www.sas-ph.com, available at https://www.sas-
ph.com/web_documents/Tax-Treaties-philippines-and-Norway.pdf (last accessed 10 February 2023). 
5 Senate Resolution No. 739 (s1979), cited in the Senate Legislative Digital Resources, available at 
https://issuances-library.senate.gov.ph/treaties/philippine-treaty-series-no-739 (last accessed 10 
February 2023). 
6 Senate Resolution No. 491(s-1969), cited in the Senate Legislative Digital Resources, available at 
https://issuances-library.senate.gov.ph/node/235752 (last accessed 10 February 2023). 


IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, approval of this Bill is earnestly requested. 
 
REP. EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
 
 
 
 
    Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. 9603
Introduced by HON. EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 
AN ACT DECLARING EVERY SECOND DAY OF MARCH OF EVERY YEAR AS 
PHILIPPINE-NORWAY FRIENDSHIP DAY COMMEMORATING THE 75TH 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE 
PHILIPPINES AND NORWAY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:  
 
Section 1. The second day of March of every year shall be declared as 
Philippine-Norway Friendship Day. 
 
Section 2. All laws, presidential decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed and modified accordingly.  
 
Section 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
Approved,