DFA Officials Brief 20th Congress Lawmakers on Promoting Philippine Foreign Policy

Undersecretary Domingo explains the overseas and internet voting to the legislators.

MANILA 30 June 2025 — Senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) gave a high-level policy briefing for some of the new members of the 20th Congress during the first batch of the Executive Course on Legislation (Executive Course) conducted by the House of Representatives (HoR) and the University of the Philippines - National College for Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) on 24 June 2025 at the HoR Complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

Undersecretary Jesus S. Domingo (Office of Civilian Security and Consular Affairs) headed the DFA delegation, joined by Assistant Secretaries Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq (Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs) and Maria Antonina M. Mendoza-Oblena (Office of Consular Affairs). The other speakers were Deputy Assistant Secretaries Emmanuel Donato K. Guzman (Office of Maritime and Ocean Affairs) and Renato N. Dueñas, Jr. (Office of Middle East and African Affairs).

During the session on “Promoting Philippine Foreign Policy,” the DFA officials explained to the new legislators the country’s priorities and foreign policies in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Likewise, the DFA articulated its strategic approaches in the West Philippine Sea. The DFA also presented its accomplishments, plans, and programs for overseas and internet voting, and its consular services.

The DFA Department Legislative Liaison Unit (DLLU), led by Assistant Secretary Zaldy B. Patron, co-organized the foreign policy briefing with the House of Representatives and UP-NCPAG.

It marked the first time that the DFA participated in the House of Representatives’ Executive Course.

The DFA will hold another high-level briefing for the second batch of the Executive Course on 8 July 2025. END

ASPAC Assistant Secretary Ducrocq explains the Philippines’ foreign policy in Asia and the Pacific.

The DFA Officials with the participants of the Executive Course.

DFA Officials receive their Plaques of Recognition from Deputy Secretary General Grace Andres (in red) of the House of Representatives.

New legislators who attended the Executive Course join the DFA officials at the end of the session.