DFA Undersecretary Briefs FSI on Foreign Policy Priorities

Undersecretary Lazaro discusses Philippine priorities in ASEAN.

MANILA 06 February 2025 – In an effort to continuously keep its researchers abreast of the current priorities of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies (CIRSS) of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) recently hosted a roundtable discussion featuring Hon. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs of the DFA on 24 January 2025.

The roundtable discussion highlighted the priorities and interests of the country in relation to regional and international developments. Through regular engagements between CIRSS researchers and senior DFA officials, the commentaries and research papers of FSI are envisioned to retain their relevance and usefulness in the promotion of the country’s foreign policy interests. 

FSI publishes articles written by its researchers and personnel of DFA through its FSI Insights, FSI Commentaries, and FSI Perspectives. These publications are primarily circulated to policy and decision makers of the Philippine Government and partner diplomatic academies of FSI. Electronic versions of these publications are uploaded to the FSI website to facilitate access by interested parties, including those from the academe and other think-tanks. 

FSI is the research and training agency attached to DFA. It was created by Presidential Decree No. 1060, as expanded by Republic Act No. 7157. The FSI Board is chaired by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs with the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Director General of FSI, President of the University of the Philippines (UP), and the President of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) as members. END

CIRSS researchers actively participate in the discussion.