DFA

Department of Foreign Affairs

Over one hundred years ago, the DFA had its auspicious beginnings when President Emilio Aguinaldo appointed Apolinario Mabini as the Republic's first Secretary of Foreign Affairs on 23 June 1898, eleven days after the declaration of Philippine independence at Kawit, Cavite.

Commonwealth Act No. 732 was passed creating the Department of Foreign Affairs.  Shortly thereafter, President Manuel Roxas issued on September 16 of that year Executive Order No. 18 providing for the organization and operation of the DFA and the Foreign Service.  The main tasks of the DFA then were to assist in post-war rehabilitation, formulate policies for investment promotion, and establish diplomatic relations with other countries.

Realizing the importance of foreign relations, President Elpidio Quirino in June 1952 pushed for the passage of the Foreign Service Act of 1952, embodied in Republic Act No. 708.  During the post-war period, the DFA focused on institution building, closer engagement with Asian neighbors, and increasing Philippine global linkages.  In 1953, Secretary Raul S. Manglapus instituted the Foreign Affairs Officers examination (now Foreign Service Officers examination) to professionalize the Foreign Service and improve the recruitment and selection of new FSOs.

The Marcos years, from 1965 to 1986, were marked by policy innovations and then difficulties brought about by the excesses of the martial law regime.  President Ferdinand Marcos redefined foreign policy as the safeguarding of territorial integrity and national dignity, and emphasized increased regional cooperation and collaboration.  He stressed "Asianness" and pursued a policy of constructive unity and co-existence with other Asian states, regardless of ideological persuasion.

In 1967, the Philippines launched a new initiative to form a regional association with other Southeast Asian countries called the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  The Philippines also normalized economic and diplomatic ties with China and the USSR, which President Marcos visited in 1975 and 1976, respectively.  The Philippines also opened embassies in the eastern bloc countries, as well as a separate mission to the European Common Market in Brussels.

Throughout the 1970s, the DFA pursued the promotion of trade and investments, played an active role in hosting international meetings, and participated in the meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement.  The Foreign Service Institute was created in 1976 to provide in-house training to Foreign Service personnel.

The EDSA Revolution in 1986 saw the re-establishment of a democratic government under President Corazon Aquino.  During this period, the DFA once again pursued development diplomacy, in the active pursuit of opportunities abroad in the vital areas of trade, investment, finance, technology and aid.

The Ramos administration from July 1992 to June 1998 defined the four core priorities of Philippine foreign policy namely: the enhancement of national security, promotion of economic diplomacy, protection of overseas Filipino workers and Filipino nationals abroad, and the projection of a good image of the country abroad.

President Ramos boosted foreign trade, investments and official development assistance to the Philippines through his state visits and summit meetings.

The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (R.A. 8042) provided a framework for stronger protection of Filipino workers abroad, with the creation of the Legal Assistance Fund and the Assistance-to-Nationals Fund, and the designation in the DFA of a Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers' Affairs, with the rank of Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs.

The DFA is also guided by the three fundamental pillars of Philippine foreign policy.  These are:

1.   Preservation and enhancement of national security;

2.   Promotion and attainment of economic security;3.   Protection of the rights and promotion of the

welfare and interest of Filipinos overseas.

MISSION.

TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE FILIPINO PEOPLE IN THE WORLD COMMUNITY.

VISION.

THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS is the prime agency of government responsible for the pursuit of the State's foreign policy and the nerve center for a Foreign Service worthy of the trust and pride of every Filipino.

OBJECTIVES.

To contribute to the enhancement of national security and the protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty;

To participate in the national endeavor to sustain development and to enhance the Philippines' competitive edge in a global milieu;

To protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and to mobilize them as partners in national development;

To project a positive image of the Philippines; To increase international understanding of Philippine culture for

mutually-beneficial relations with other countries; and, To increase and maximize human, financial, technological and

other resources to optimize the performance of the Department.

Organisational Structure

The DFA has eleven principal offices. The geographic offices manage political and economic relations in different regions and pursue Philippine interests in multilateral organizations, These include the following: Office of American Affairs; Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs; Office of European Affairs; Office of Middle East and African Affairs; Office of ASEAN Affairs; and the Office of United Nations and International Organizations. The line offices are the following:  Office of Personnel and Administrative Services, Office of Legal Affairs, Office of Consular Affairs, and the Office of Protocol and State Visits.

The Office of the Secretary (OSEC)

Advises the President on matters relating to the formulation and execution of Philippine Foreign Policy. Its functions include the administration and coordination of Philippine foreign relations; the promulgation of rules and regulations which may be necessary to carry out foreign policy objectives and the delegation of authority to perform any function or set of functions to officers and employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs necessary for the conduct of Philippine foreign relations and the delegation of authority to perform any function or set of functions to officers and employees necessary for the conduct of Philippine foreign relations

Office of the Undersecretary for Administration

R. A. 7157 defines the role of an Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs as follows - to advise and assist the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the formulation and implementation of the Department's objectives and policies, as well as [to] coordinate and oversee the operational activities of the Departments.

The Office of the Undersecretary for Administration aids the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and provides him advice on matters relating to the general operations of the Department of Foreign Affairs, its regional offices and Philippine Foreign Service Posts and all other administrative matters and concerns

Office of the Undersecretary for Policy

The Office of the Undersecretary for Policy aids the Secretary of Foreign Affairs by providing advice on matters relating to the formulation and execution of Philippine foreign policy, particularly on bilateral, regional and international political and security issues. Its functions specifically include: (1) promoting the multilateral and bilateral relations of the Philippines with other states; (2) providing policy recommendations to the President and the Philippine legislature through the Secretary of Foreign Affairs on all matters involving the promotion of diplomatic relations with other states, as well as for the advancement of other political and security agenda in other fora; (3) coordinating with other concerned government agencies on the formulation of Philippine positions on various regional and international political and security issues and; (4) attending, in support of the Secretary, multilateral and bilateral fora pertaining to political and security matters, and in other meetings when regional and international political and security issues are tabled in the agenda for discussion.

Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant and Workers Affairs

Created by Republic Act No. 8042, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs aids the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and provides advice on matters relating to the formulation and execution of Philippine foreign policy relating to the protection of the dignity, fundamental rights and freedoms of Filipino citizens abroad, while giving particular attention to the protection and promotion of the welfare and dignity of overseas Filipinos. It is the third pillar of Philippine foreign policy and one of the highest priority concerns of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Foreign Service Posts.

Office of the Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns

The Offices of the Undersecretaries advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of the Department's objectives and policies, and coordinate and oversee the operational activities of the Department, performing specific duties and task according to each Office's expertise  The Office of the Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns aids the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and provides him advice on matters relating to identified special issues and concerns of the Department

Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations

The Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations is principally in-charge with implementing and coordinating the responsibilities and functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs relating to trade and investments, science and technology, the environment and sustainable development, official development cooperation and other related economic/social concerns, particularly those related to issues on women and youth vis-à-vis other countries, in cooperation with all Philippine government agencies concerned and the private sector.

Several undersecretaries assist the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the formulation of Department policies and objectives and in coordinating and overseeing the operational activities of the DFA. The Undersecretary for Policy directly supervises the geographic offices and the Office while the Undersecretary for Administration handles the functional offices. In line with the three foreign policy pillars, the other Undersecretaries are in charge of migrant workers' affairs, the conduct of international economic relations, and  security-related and other special concerns.

Indonesia's MFA

Foreign Policy, Vision and Mission

Direction of Indonesian Foreign Policy

1.         To take on a more significant role and leadership in ASEAN and in the establishment of ASEAN Community 2015

2.         To take on a more significant role in preserving national security and creating world peace

Diplomacy and facilitation of international cooperation is conducted to support the integrity and unity of Indonesia and to secure its natural resources.

4.         To improve the quality of services for and protection of Indonesian citizens and Indonesian legal entities overseas

(i)     Improvement of citizen services in the 24 overseas representatives

(ii)    Facilitation of cooperation with destination countries of Indonesian citizens

A number of meetings with destination countries are held to strengten cooperation to address problems and ensure better protection of Indonesian citizens overseas.

(iii)   Technical coordination with the relevant local government and local agency

5.         To create a more positive image of Indonesia through advancement of democracy and human rights, and protection of culture heritage.

 7.   To improve the quality of economic

diplomacy in multilateral forums through: Indonesia’s active participation in multilateral forums such as WTO, APEC, G-20, and G-33 to further promote the interest of Indonesian and other developing countries. Indonesia’s initiatives and ideas need to be supported in each meeting.

8.         To increase the South-South cooperation, through the development of the South-South cooperation.