DFA Officials Conduct Foreign Policy Briefings for 20th Congress Lawmakers
New legislators who attended the Executive Course last 08 July 2025 join the DFA officials at the end of the DFA’s session on Promoting Philippine Foreign Policy.
MANILA 14 July 2025 — With the recent opening of the 20th Philippine Congress, a team of senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) gave high-level policy briefings to 21 new members of the 20th Congress during the Executive Course on Legislation conducted by the House of Representatives and the University of the Philippines - National College for Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) on 24 June and 8 July 2025 at the House of Representatives Complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.
Co-led by Undersecretary Jesus S. Domingo (Office of Civilian Security and Consular Affairs) and Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega (Office of the Undersecretary for Migration Affairs), the DFA officials discussed a range of foreign policy issues meant to familiarize the new members of Congress on the Philippines’ narratives and positions on these issues.
The topics tackled during the two separate briefings included the Philippine foreign policies in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions; the Philippines’ interests in the maritime domain, including the West Philippine Sea; and the Philippines’ 80-year active membership in the United Nations and its bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The DFA gave light on its contingency plans for overseas Filipinos in the conflict zones in other parts of the world, such as Israel and Iran.
With its experience in the 2025 national elections, the DFA shared with the lawmakers its policy recommendations on the conduct of overseas voting and internet voting.
Likewise, the lawmakers were given a thorough presentation on the issues and concerns around Filipino diaspora, the assistance-to-national services the DFA renders to overseas Filipinos, and the DFA’s working relations with the Department of Migrant Workers.
Highlighting the importance of its consular services, the DFA shared with the lawmakers its plans to further improve the delivery of its passport, authentication, and visa services across the country and in the Philippine Foreign Service posts.
Lastly, the DFA took the opportunity to elucidate the basis and parameters of the Philippines’ independent foreign policy and its three main pillars of national security, economic security, and protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interests of Filipinos overseas.
Joining the 21 new lawmakers in the DFA’s two briefings were 58 officials and staff from the House of Representatives and the UP-NCPAG.
Aside from Undersecretary Domingo and Undersecretary De Vega, seven Assistant Secretaries and two Deputy Assistant Secretaries of the DFA gave their respective presentations at the two briefings.
The DFA’s foreign policy briefing for the lawmakers, done for the first time during the Executive Course, was a joint project of the DFA Department Legislative Liaison Unit, the House of Representatives, and UP-NCPAG. END
Undersecretary Domingo explains the overseas and internet voting to the legislators.
Undersecretary de Vega explains the Philippine Migration Policy to the legislators.
DFA officials receive their Plaques of Recognition from House of Representatives’ Deputy Secretary General Dante Roberto Maling (center, in black jacket).
From left to right: Assistant Secretary Robert O. Ferrer, Jr., Assistant Secretary Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa M. Almojuela
Assistant Secretary Robespierre L. Bolivar discusses the Philippines’ independent foreign policy.
The legislators at the presentation of Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis M. Alferez on the Philippines’ maritime interests
Assistant Secretary Zaldy B. Patron highlights the importance of the Foreign Policy Briefing and the role of DLLU in the DFA’s interactions with Congress.