22 MAI 2005. - An Act to approve the Convention on Social Security between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of the Philippines, signed in Manila on 7 December 2001 (1) (2)

ALBERT II, King of the Belgians,
To all, present and to come, Hi.
The Chambers adopted and We sanction the following:
Article 1^er. This Act regulates a matter referred to in Article 77 of the Constitution.
Art. 2. The Convention on Social Security between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of the Philippines, signed in Manila on 7 December 2001, will come out with its full effect.
Promulgate this law, order that it be clothed with the seal of the State and published by the Belgian Monitor.
Given in Brussels on 22 May 2005.
ALBERT
By the King:
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
K. DE GUCHT
Minister of Social Affairs,
R. DEMOTTE
Minister of Average Class,
Mrs. S. LARUELLE
Seal of the state seal:
The Minister of Justice,
Ms. L. ONKELINX
____
Notes
(1) Session 2004-2005.
Senate.
Documents. - Bill tabled on 14 December 2004, No. 3-958/1. - Report, number 3-958/2.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion and voting. Session of February 17, 2005.
House of Representatives.
Documents. - Project transmitted by the Senate, No. 51-1620/1. - Text adopted in plenary and subject to Royal Assent, No. 51-1620/2.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion and voting. Session of March 17, 2005.
(2) This Convention comes into force on 1^er August 2005.

Convention on Social Security between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of the Philippines
The Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of the Philippines, motivated by the desire to settle the mutual relations between the two States in the field of social security, agreed to conclude the following Convention:
PART I^er. - General provisions
Article 1^er
Definitions
1. For the purposes of this Convention:
(a) The term "Belgium" refers to the Kingdom of Belgium;
"Philippines" means the Republic of the Philippines.
(b) The term "citizen" means:
concerning Belgium: a person of Belgian nationality;
in the Philippines: a person of Philippine nationality.
(c) The term "legislation" means the laws and regulations referred to in section 2.
(d) The term "competent authority" means:
with regard to Belgium: the Ministers responsible, each with respect to it, of the application of the legislation referred to in article 2, paragraph 1^er (a)
in the Philippines: President and Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security System.
(e) The term "organism" means:
with respect to Belgium: the institution, organization or authority responsible for applying, in whole or in part, the legislation referred to in Article 2, paragraph 1^er (a)
in the Philippines: the Social Security System.
(f) The term "insurance period" means: any period recognized as such by the legislation under which this period was completed, and any period recognized by this legislation as equivalent to an insurance period.
(g) The term "pension" means:
in respect of Belgium: any pension or cash benefit, including any supplements or increases that are applicable under the legislation referred to in Article 2;
in respect of the Philippines: any pension, including any supplements or increases that are applicable under the legislation referred to in Article 2.
(h) The term "survivor" means: any person defined or admitted as such by the legislation under which benefits are served.
(i) The term "family member" means: any person defined or admitted as a family member or designated as a household member by the legislation under which benefits are served.
(j) The term "patride" means: any person defined as stateless in section 1^er of the 28 September 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.
(k) The term "refugee" means any person who has been granted refugee status under the Convention of 28 July 1951 relating to the Status of Refugees and the Additional Protocol of 31 January 1967.
2. Any term not defined in paragraph 1^er of this section has the meaning assigned to it by the legislation that applies.
Article 2
Field of material application
1. This Convention applies:
(a) with regard to Belgium, the relevant legislation:
(i) retirement and survival pensions for employees and self-employed persons;
(ii) the disability allowances of employed workers, minor workers, merchant navy sailors and independent workers;
and, with respect to Part II only, the relevant legislation:
(iii) social security of employed workers;
(iv) the social status of independent workers;
(b) with regard to the Philippines:
(i) Social Security Law relating to retirement, disability and survival pensions;
and, with respect to Part II only, the relevant legislation:
(ii) social security;
(iii) compensation for workers.
2. This Convention also applies to all legislative or regulatory acts that will amend or supplement the legislation listed in paragraph 1^er of this article.
It shall apply to legislative or regulatory acts that extend existing regimes to new categories of beneficiaries if there is not, in this regard, opposition from the Contracting State that amends its legislation, notified to the other Contracting State within six months from the official publication of the said acts.
Article 3
Field of personal application
Unless otherwise provided, this Convention shall apply:
(a) persons who are or have been subject to the legislation of one of the Contracting States and who are:
(i) nationals of one of the Contracting States, or
(ii) stateless persons or refugees recognized by one of the Contracting States,
and members of their families and survivors;
(b) Survivors and members of their families of persons who have been subjected to the legislation of one of the two Contracting States, regardless of the nationality of the latter when such survivors or family members are nationals of one of the Contracting States or stateless persons or refugees recognized by one of the Contracting States.
Article 4
Equal treatment
Unless otherwise provided in this Convention, the persons referred to in Article 3 shall be subject to their obligations and shall be entitled to the law of each Contracting State under the same conditions as the nationals of that State.
Article 5
Export of pensions
1. Pensions acquired under the legislation of one of the Contracting States shall not be subject to any reduction or modification as the beneficiary resides or resides in the territory of the other Contracting State.
2. Retirement and survival pensions due by one of the Contracting States shall be paid to nationals of the other State residing in the territory of a third country under the same conditions as if they were nationals of the first State residing in the territory of that third country.
Article 6
Reduction or suspension clauses
The reduction or suspension clauses provided for in the legislation of a Contracting State, in the event of a cumulative pension with other social security benefits or with other income or as a result of the exercise of a professional activity, shall be enforceable to the beneficiaries, even if it is a benefit acquired under a regime of the other State or if it is income obtained or a professional activity exercised on the State.
PART II. - Provisions determining the applicable legislation
Article 7
General rule
Subject to Articles 8 to 10, the applicable legislation shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) persons engaged in professional activity in the territory of a Contracting State shall be subject to the law of that State;
(b) persons who permanently exercise a professional activity on board a ship flying the flag of a Contracting State shall be subject to the law of that State.
Article 8
Special rules
1. An employee who, being in the service of a company having in the territory of one of the Contracting States an establishment of which he or she normally belongs, is detached by that enterprise in the territory of the other Contracting State to carry out work on behalf of the other Contracting State, remains, as well as the members of his or her family accompanying him, subject to the legislation of the first State as if he or she continued to be occupied in his or her territory provided that the foreseeable period of work
2. Article 7, paragraph 1^er, (b), is not applicable to persons who are not usually occupied on the sea are occupied in territorial waters or in a port of one of the Contracting States on a ship flying flag of the other State.
As the case may be, section 7, paragraph 1^er, (a), or paragraph 1^er of this article is of application.
3. Employee workers of a transport company having its seat in the territory of one of the Contracting States, who are detached from or occupied in the territory of the other Contracting State, either domestically or as travelling personnel, as well as members of their families accompanying them, are subject to the legislation of the Contracting State in whose territory the company has its seat.
However, where the company has, in the territory of the other Contracting State, a branch or permanent representation, the employed workers that it occupies are subject to the legislation of the Contracting State in whose territory it is located, with the exception of those who are sent to it as non-permanent.
Article 9
Officials, members of diplomatic missions and consular posts
1. Civil servants and assimilated personnel are subject to the legislation of the Contracting State under which the administration which occupies them is responsible. Such persons, as well as members of their families, are considered to be resident in that Contracting State, even if they are in the other Contracting State.
2. (a) Nationals of a Contracting State sent by the Government of that Contracting State in the territory of the other Contracting State as members of a diplomatic mission or consular post shall be subject to the legislation of the first Contracting State.
(b) Persons engaged by a diplomatic mission or by a consular post of one of the Contracting States in the territory of the other Contracting State shall be subject to the legislation of the latter Contracting State.
However, persons who are nationals of the first Contracting State may opt for the application of the legislation of that Contracting State.
Such an election shall take place within six months from the commencement of the occupation or the effective date of this Convention.
(c) Where the diplomatic mission or consular post of one of the Contracting States occupies persons who, in accordance with paragraph (b) of this paragraph, are subject to the legislation of the other Contracting State, the mission or post shall take into account the obligations imposed on employers by the legislation of that Contracting State.
(d) The provisions of points (b) and (c) of this paragraph shall apply by analogy to persons in private service of a person referred to in paragraph (a) of this paragraph.
(e) The provisions of items (a) to (d) of this paragraph shall not apply to the honorary members of a consular post or to persons occupied in the private service of such persons.
(f) The provisions of this paragraph shall also apply to members of the family of persons referred to in (a) to (e), living in their homes, unless they themselves perform a professional activity.
Article 10
Derogations
Competent authorities may, in common agreement, for the benefit of certain insured persons or certain categories of insured persons, derogations from the provisions of Articles 7 to 9.
PART III. - Pension provisions
CHAPTER I^er. - Common provisions
Article 11
With respect to the acquisition, maintenance or recovery of the right to pensions, the insurance periods carried out in accordance with the legislation of the Contracting States are totalized, if necessary, provided that they do not overlap.
CHAPTER II. - Special provisions on Belgian pensions
Section A. - Retirement and Survival Pensions
Article 12
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 11, when Belgian legislation provides for the granting of certain pensions provided that the periods of insurance have been made in a specified profession are not totalized, for admission to the benefit of such pensions, only the periods of insurance in the same profession in the Philippines.
2. When Belgian legislation subordinates the granting of certain pensions provided that the insurance periods have been completed in a specified profession and when such periods have not been able to grant such pensions, such periods are considered valid for the liquidation of pensions provided for by the general pension scheme of employed workers.
Article 13
1. When a person meets the conditions required by Belgian legislation to be entitled to pensions without the need to complete the pension, the Belgian agency calculates the right to pension directly on the basis of insurance periods completed in Belgium and according to Belgian legislation alone.
The organization also calculates the amount of pension that would be obtained by application of the rules set out in paragraph 2, sub (a) and (b). The highest amount is only retained.
2. If a person can claim a pension under Belgian law, whose right is only open given the totalization of insurance periods in accordance with Article 11, the following rules apply:
(a) the Belgian agency calculates the theoretical amount of the pension that would be payable if all insurance periods under the laws of the two Contracting States had been completed only under the legislation it applies;
(b) the Belgian agency then calculates the amount due, on the basis of the amount referred to in littera (a), to the prorated duration of the insurance periods carried out under its sole legislation in relation to the duration of all insurance periods recorded under (a).
Section B. - Invalidity
Article 14
For the liquidation of disability pensions pursuant to Belgian legislation, article 11 and article 13, paragraph 2, are applicable.
Article 15
Notwithstanding Article 14, Belgium will not grant pensions for periods under its legislation and which are to be taken into consideration at the time of the risk if the duration of such periods does not reach a year.
Article 16
If according to Belgian legislation, a right to a pension is opened without recourse to the provisions of Article 11, and the amount of that pension is higher than the amount resulting from the addition of Belgian and Philippine prorated pensions, the competent Belgian agency in addition grants the prorated pension to which it is responsible, an addition equal to the difference between the total amount of such pensions and the amount of the pension due only according to the law.
Article 17
1. By derogation from the provisions of Articles 11 and 16, the rights to disability pensions of workers who have been occupied in mines or quarries with underground exploitation in Belgium and the Philippines are determined according to the rules set out in Article 13, when, taking into account the periods totaled for this purpose, these workers meet the conditions provided for in the special Belgian legislation on the disability of minor and assimilated workers.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1^er, are totaled with periods of actual occupation or assimilated in the mines or quarries with Belgian underground operation, periods of insurance in the same profession exercised in the territory of the Philippines, both for the acquisition and for the determination of the law.
3. If, in view of the periods thus totaled, the person concerned does not meet the conditions required to benefit from the pensions provided for in the Belgian special legislation on the disability of minor and assimilated workers, the periods of actual occupation or occupation in the mines or careers with Belgian underground exploitation are taken into account in the granting of pensions of the disability insurance scheme of employed workers.
Article 18
In the event of a transfer of residence and temporary residence in the other State, the competent Belgian authority may require that the holder of a disability pension obtain the authorization of the competent Belgian agency. This authorization may then be refused only if the movement of the interested party is not recommended under the same conditions as if it were Belgian nationals.
Article 19
1. If, due to the increase in the cost of living, the change in the level of wages or other accommodations, Filipino pensions are amended by a percentage or amount determined, this percentage or amount must be applied directly to Philippine pensions, without the need for a new calculation of Belgian pensions.
2. However, in the event of a change in the method of establishment or pension calculation rules, a new calculation is made in accordance with section 13.
CHAPTER III. - Special provisions on Philippine pensions
Rule 20
1. The competent Philippine body will not apply the provisions of section 11 if the person on whose behalf pension is calculated has sufficient insurance periods to meet the conditions of pension entitlement under Philippine legislation.
2. This Convention shall not prejudice the application of Philippine legislation in respect of payment of pensions more favourable to persons referred to in Article 3.
Article 21
Notwithstanding sections 11 and 20, if the total duration of insurance periods performed by a person under Philippine legislation does not exceed one year, the competent Philippine organization will not be required to grant a disability pension to that person.
Article 22
If a person can claim a pension under Philippine legislation, whose entitlement is only open given the totalization of insurance periods in accordance with Article 11, the Philippine competent body shall calculate the amount of the pension payable to that person as follows:
(a) First, it determines the amount of the theoretical pension to which the person would be entitled under Philippine legislation only on the basis of the minimum insurance periods required by that legislation;
(b) then, it multiplies the theoretical pension by the fraction of the insurance periods actually carried out under Philippine legislation in relation to all insurance periods under Philippine legislation and the only periods under Belgian law required to meet the minimum conditions for granting this pension under Philippine legislation.
PART IV. - Miscellaneous provisions
Article 23
Responsibilities of competent authorities
The competent authorities:
(a) take all necessary administrative measures to implement this Convention and designate liaison bodies;
(b) define administrative mutual assistance procedures, including the apportionment of expenditures related to obtaining medical, administrative and other certificates required for the purposes of this Convention;
(c) disclose directly any information regarding the measures taken to implement this Convention;
(d) communicate directly, as soon as possible, any amendments to their legislation that may affect the application of this Convention.
Article 24
Administrative collaboration
1. For the purposes of this Convention, the competent authorities and the competent bodies of each of the Contracting States shall lend their good offices, as if it were the application of their own legislation. This assistance is in principle free of charge; However, the competent authorities may agree on the reimbursement of certain costs.
2. The benefit of the exemptions or reductions of taxes, stamp duties, transplantation or registration provided for in the legislation of one of the Contracting States for the documents or documents to be produced pursuant to the legislation of that State is extended to the documents and documents similar to be produced under the law of the other State.
3. All acts and documents to be produced under this Convention shall be exempted from the legalization visa of diplomatic or consular authorities.
4. For the purposes of this Convention, the competent authorities and the competent bodies of the Contracting States are empowered to correspond directly with each other and with any person, irrespective of his or her residence. Correspondence may be made in one of the official languages of the Contracting States.
Rule 25
Requests, declarations and remedies
Requests, declarations or appeals that should have been brought under the law of a Contracting State, within a specified period of time, to an authority, body or jurisdiction of that Contracting State, shall be admissible if they are brought within the same time limit to an authority, body or jurisdiction of the other Contracting State. In this case, the authority, body or jurisdiction so seized shall forthwith transmit such requests, declarations or recourse to the authority, body or jurisdiction of the first Contracting State, either directly or through the competent authorities of the Contracting States. The date on which these requests, declarations or appeals have been filed with an authority, body or jurisdiction of the other Contracting State shall be deemed to be the date on which the authority, body or jurisdiction competent to hear them.
An application or document may not be rejected because it is written in an official language of the other Contracting State.
Rule 26
Payment of pensions
Pension debtors under this Convention may be released into the currency of their State.
The transfers resulting from the application of this Convention shall take place in accordance with the relevant agreements between the two Contracting States.
The provisions of a Contracting State ' s foreign exchange control legislation shall not preclude the free transfer of financial amounts resulting from the application of this Convention.
Rule 27
Settlement of disputes
Disputes relating to the interpretation and enforcement of this Convention shall be settled, to the extent possible, by the competent authorities.
Rule 28
Undue payments
Where an organization of a Contracting State has paid an amount to a beneficiary of pension that exceeds the amount to which it is entitled, the organization may, under the conditions and limits provided for in the legislation that it applies, request the agency of the other Contracting State, pension debtor in favour of that beneficiary, to retain the amount paid in excess of the amounts it pays to the beneficiary. The latter body operates the deduction under the conditions and limits where such compensation is authorized by the legislation it applies, as if it were to be served too much by itself and transfers the amount so retained to the creditor body.
PART V. - Transitional and final provisions
Rule 29
Eventualities prior to the entry into force of the Convention
1. This Convention also applies to any event that has occurred prior to its entry into force.
2. This Convention does not open any pension entitlement for a period prior to its entry into force.
3. Any period of insurance under the law of one of the Contracting States before the date of entry into force of this Convention shall be taken into consideration for the determination of the right to pension in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
4. This Convention does not apply to rights that have been liquidated by the granting of a lump sum allowance or the reimbursement of contributions.
Rule 30
Revision, prescription, termination
1. Any pension that has not been liquidated or has been suspended because of the nationality of the person concerned or because of his residence in the territory of a Contracting State other than the territory of which the debtor is located is, at the request of the person concerned, liquidated or restored from the entry into force of this Convention.
2. The rights of persons who have obtained, prior to the entry into force of this Convention, the liquidation of a pension shall be revised upon request, taking into account the provisions of this Convention. In no case shall such a review have the effect of reducing the prior rights of the persons concerned.
3. If the request referred to in paragraphs 1^er or 2 of this article shall be submitted within two years from the date of entry into force of this Convention, the rights opened in accordance with the provisions of this Convention shall be acquired from that date, without the provisions of the legislation of either Contracting State relating to the termination or limitation of the rights being enforceable.
4. If the request referred to in paragraphs 1^er or 2 of this article shall be submitted after a period of two years following the entry into force of this Convention, the rights which are not subject to a termination or are not prescribed shall be acquired from the date of the application, subject to more favourable provisions of the law of the Contracting State concerned.
Rule 31
Duration
This Convention shall be concluded for an indefinite period. It may be denounced by one of the Contracting States by written notification addressed to the other State with a twelve-month notice.
Rule 32
Guarantee of acquired or acquired rights
In the event of denunciation of this Convention, the rights and payments of pensions acquired under the Convention shall be maintained. Contracting States shall make arrangements with respect to acquisition rights.
Rule 33
Entry into force
This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the third month following the date of receipt of the note by which the last of the two Contracting States has served the other Contracting State that the formalities required are fulfilled.
In faith, the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed this Convention.
Done in Manila, on the seventh day of December of the year two thousand one in double copy, in English, French and Dutch, each text being equally authentic.

Administrative arrangement on the application of the Convention on Social Security between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of the Philippines
Pursuant to Article 23 of the Convention on Social Security between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of the Philippines, the competent Belgian and Philippine authorities have agreed to the following provisions:
PART I^er. - General provisions
Article 1^er
1. For the purposes of this Arrangement:
(a) the term "Convention" means the Convention on Social Security of
between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of the Philippines;
(b) the term "Arrangement" means the Administrative Agreement on the Application of the Convention on Social Security between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of the Philippines.
2. The terms defined in Article 1^er of the Convention shall have the meaning assigned to them.
Article 2
1. Are designated as focal points for the application of the Convention:
In Belgium:
1. Retirement, survival:
- National Pension Office, Brussels;
- National Institute of Social Insurance for Independent Workers, Brussels;
2. Invalidity:
(a) General disability:
National Disability Insurance Institute, Brussels;
(b) Mariners ' disability:
Emergency and contingency fund for sailors, Antwerp;
In the Philippines:
International Affairs Division and branch expansion,
Social Security System, Manila.
2. Designated as competent bodies for the application of the Convention:
In Belgium:
1. Retirement, survival:
- National Pension Office, Brussels;
- National Institute of Social Insurance for Independent Workers, Brussels;
2. Invalidity:
(a) General disability:
National Disability Insurance Institute, Brussels, in conjunction with the insurance agency to which the employee or the independent worker is or has been affiliated;
(b) Mariners ' disability:
Emergency and contingency fund for sailors, Antwerp;
In the Philippines:
Social Security System, Manila.
3. They shall be designated as bodies of the place of residence and bodies of the place of residence for the purposes of the Convention:
In Belgium:
1. Retirement, survival:
- National Pension Office, Brussels;
- National Institute of Social Insurance for Independent Workers, Brussels;
2. Invalidity:
(a) General disability:
National Disability Insurance Institute, Brussels, in conjunction with the insurance agency to which the employee or the independent worker is or has been affiliated;
(b) Mariners ' disability:
Emergency and contingency fund for sailors, Antwerp;
In the Philippines:
Social Security System, Manila.
PART II. - Provisions concerning applicable legislation
Article 3
1. In the cases referred to in paragraph 1^er of Article 8 of the Convention, the body designated in paragraph 2 of this Article of the Contracting State whose legislation remains applicable, shall give to the employee, at the request of the employee or his employer, a certificate certifying that he or she remains subject to that legislation and indicating until what date.
2. The certificate provided for in paragraph 1^er of this article shall be issued:
in Belgium by:
the National Social Security Office, Brussels;
in the Philippines by:
division of international affairs and expansion of branches, Social Security System, Manila.
3. The original of the certificate referred to in paragraph 1^er of this article shall be given to the worker; he must be in his possession throughout the period of the detachment to prove in the host country his condition of subjugation.
4. A copy of the certificate issued by the competent body of the Philippines is sent to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Public Health and the Environment, Social Inspection Service in Brussels. Similarly, a copy of the certificate issued by the competent body of Belgium is sent the division of international affairs and expansion of branches, Social Security System, Manila.
PART III. - Provisions concerning disability, retirement and survival
Article 4
1. The liaison agency that receives an application for a pension payable by the competent body of the other Contracting State shall forthwith transmit the application to the liaison agency of the other State using the formulae for that purpose.
2. It will also transmit all available documents that may be required so that the competent body of the other Contracting State may determine the applicant's right to the pension in question.
3. The civil status data contained in the application form will be duly authenticated by the liaison agency to confirm that original documents corroborate this data.
4. In addition, the liaison agency will transmit to the liaison agency of the other Contracting State a form indicating the periods completed under the legislation of the first State.
Upon receipt of the form, the liaison agency of the other State will add the information relating to the periods under the legislation it applies and will return it to the liaison agency of the first State without delay.
5. (a) Each of the competent bodies will determine the rights of the applicant and, where appropriate, his or her spouse and will direct his or her decision, with the indication of the periods of insurance and remedies and time limits of appeal.
(b) The competent body that provides a pension will, through the liaison agencies, communicate its decision to the competent body of the other State.
6. (a) If the Philippine liaison agency is aware that a beneficiary of a Belgian disability, retirement or survival pension, residing in the Philippines, or possibly its spouse, has not ceased any professional activity or resumed such activity, it will promptly notify the Belgian liaison agency.
(b) The Philippine liaison agency will also provide all available information on the nature of the work performed and the amount of the gains or resources that the individual or his or her spouse has or has benefited.
Article 5
1. The liaison agency of a Contracting State shall, upon request, transmit to the liaison agency of the other State any medical information and documentation relating to the incapacity of the applicant or beneficiary.
2. Where a beneficiary of a disability pension resides or resides in the territory of the State other than the territory of the debtor body, the administrative and medical check shall be carried out at the request of that body by the body of the place of residence or residence of the beneficiary under the terms and conditions prescribed by the law that the latter body applies. However, the debtor organization reserves the right to have a doctor make his choice to control the recipient.
3. The inspection fee is reimbursed to the body of the State of residence or residence by the competent body. These fees are determined by the creditor organization on the basis of its tariff and reimbursed by the debtor agency upon presentation of a detailed note of the expenditures made.
Article 6
1. The relevant agencies pay pensions to beneficiaries by direct payment.
2. Pension payment fees may be recovered from recipients under the conditions provided by the legislation applicable to the payment agency.
Article 7
The liaison agencies shall annually exchange statistical information on the number of payments made in the other Contracting State as well as on the amounts related.
PART IV. - Miscellaneous provisions
Article 8
The model of the certificates, certificates or forms required for the implementation of the Convention and this Administrative Arrangement shall be agreed upon by the liaison bodies of the two Contracting States with the approval of the competent authorities.
Article 9
This Administrative Arrangement shall enter into force on the same date as the Convention. It will have the same duration as the Convention.
Done in Manila on the tenth day of December 2001 in double copy, in English, French and Dutch, each text being equally authentic.