DFA Holds Public Diplomacy Caravan in Palawan

The DFA officials along with school officials formally open the caravan at the Western Philippines University (left photo) and Palawan National School (right photo).

PALAWAN 01 August 2025 – In partnership with the Western Philippines University (WPU) and Palawan National School (PNS) in Aborlan and Puerto Princesa City, respectively, the Department of Foreign Affairs successfully held the fifth iteration of the DFA Public Diplomacy Caravan in the province of Palawan on 28 -29 July 2025.  The caravan was held to give the public, particularly students, a better understanding of the DFA’s different functions and responsibilities, and have direct interaction with its stakeholders to better appreciate their concerns and perspectives in relation to the DFA as a public service agency.  

Participants from WPU are university students taking up agriculture, engineering, forestry, public administration, criminology, education, fisheries, social work, information systems, etc.  For PNS, senior high school students were the attendees. The DFA Team was composed of Office of Policy Planning and Coordination (OPPC) Deputy Assistant Secretary Jed Martin A. Llona, Office of Public Diplomacy (OPD) Acting Director Jacqueline Joan S. Arquiza, Human Resources Management Office Jake Robin S. Ramintas, Office of ASEAN Affairs Acting Director Anwar M. Ito, and Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office Principal Assistant Dennis B. Flores, and OPD staff.

Through their presentations, the DFA officers shared the mandate of the Department and some of the important issues that the DFA handles and pursues, including independent Philippine foreign policy; the twin anchors of Philippine foreign policy in the maritime domain - the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award; Philippine maritime zones; the ASEAN as a regional organization and the PH hosting of the ASEAN Summit in 2026, and careers in the DFA.  During their presentations, the officers shared their professional backgrounds and highlighted that the DFA accepts applicants for both officer and staff positions regardless of the course they finished in college/university. 

Open forums followed the presentations where the students were given the opportunity to ask questions.  The DFA officers responded to questions relating to the requirements and procedures in applying for a job in the Department, the issue of the West Philippines Sea, combating fake news, foreign scholarships, passport application requirements, DFA assistance to Filipinos who intend to work abroad, and the Thailand-Cambodia conflict.

Prior to holding the caravans, the DFA team called on officials of both schools where the DFA team briefed the school officials on the purpose of the caravan.  The courtesy call likewise gave the school officials the opportunity to ask questions and be clarified on the services of the DFA. END

OPD Acting Director Jacqueline Joan S. Arquiza (standing in the podium)  introduces the DFA Public Diplomacy Caravan  to students and invites them to follow the DFA in its social media accounts.

 OPPC Deputy Assistant Secretary Jed Martin A. Llona (standing) discusses to students the concept of independent Philippine foreign policy.

 Office of ASEAN Affairs Acting Director Anwar M. Ito (standing) shares to student information on ASEAN as a regional organization and the Philippines’s membership to the said regional bloc. 

HRMO Acting Director Jake Robin S. Ramintas (standing on stage) encourages students to consider a career  in diplomacy through his presentation on the different entry pathways in the Department.

The DFA officials respond to questions from students.

The DFA officials and WPU officials with WPU students after the open forum.

 The DFA officials and PNS officials with PNS students after the open forum.