AUTHENTICATION
HON. ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
LUNCHEON RECEPTION FOR THE DFA-ACCREDITED MEDIA
10 February 2016 (Wednesday) – 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Aquarius-Capricorn Room 27/F, Diamond Hotel, Manila
OPENING REMARKS
A PRINCIPLED PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY
UNDER THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION
Introduction
Distinguished Members of the Philippine Media;
Colleagues in DFA;
Honored guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;
A very good afternoon and a Happy Lunar New Year.
In the Year of the Fire Monkey, according to Astrology, there could be “good chances of reconciliation and resolution.” This bodes well for our Philippine advocacies in international diplomacy.
By now, all of you already know that President Benigno S. Aquino III has accepted my resignation as the 24th Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
It has truly been a distinct honor and privilege to have fully dedicated myself to our country and the Filipino people under the leadership of His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III, the Chief Architect of Philippine Foreign Policy.
I have endeavored to give my all to the Philippine Foreign Service in the last five (5) years; for nearly 10 years in the Philippine Government, including my stint as Philippine Ambassador to the United States from 2001 up to August 2006.
And through it all, the DFA-accredited media has been a reliable ally and a trusted friend.
With the President’s guidance, the Department of Foreign Affairs has pursued a Philippine Foreign Policy that is independent, principled, and based on the rule of law. We stand firmly in promoting and defending the Philippine national interest in the global arena. We helped raise the standards of economic diplomacy as a nation-branding strategy and an instrument of statecraft. We remain strongly committed to protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of overseas Filipinos everywhere.
At this juncture, please allow me to provide the highlights of our Philippine Foreign Policy under the Aquino administration.
On Assistance to Nationals
As you may already know, barely 36 hours after being sworn in on February 24, 2011, we arrived in Tripoli, Libya to extricate some 400 overseas Filipinos out of the war-torn city, into the Libyan-Tunisian border.
Since then, in addition to Libya, I have been, several times, to Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Egypt resulting in the DFA’s repatriation of over 24,000 Filipinos in these countries torn by civil strife, devastated by natural and other disasters, and affected by pandemics. From 2011 to 2015, the DFA extended assistance to over 80,000 overseas Filipinos and members of their families.
On Advancing National Security
With the President’s directive, the DFA made the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea issue a foreign policy priority, intensifying our advocacy for the primacy of the rule of law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Closely working with key agencies under the President’s directives, the DFA championed arbitration as an open, friendly and transparent mechanism in resolving the maritime dispute, negotiated with allies for the Philippine Defense Modernization Program, and consulted with foreign counterparts on policy and operational issues.
On Economic Diplomacy
On economic diplomacy as an instrument of statecraft, the DFA, through its 84 Posts, have taken a revitalized role as promoters of Philippine trade, investments, tourism and Official Development Assistance or ODA.
From 2011 to 2015, a total of 205 economic agreements were signed, covering labor, trade, education, tourism and air services. We have as well had four (4) rounds of negotiations and look forward to the conclusion of the Philippines-Europe Free Trade Association FTA agreement.
On Consular Services
The DFA established more efficient and streamlined electronic passport processing facilities in cooperation with partner agencies such as the APO Production Unit, Inc., while the 21 Regional Consular Offices (RCOs) and 5 Satellite Consular Offices made DFA’s consular services more accessible and more cost effective to the general public.
A DFA Transformation Program
Throughout my five-year stewardship of the DFA, I have embarked on and pursued a carefully thought-out DFA transformation program, namely:
1. Restoring morale by further strengthening the career service corps;
2. Upgrading economic diplomacy skills through a partnership with AIM;
3. Placing merit over seniority in the career advancement process;
4. Rationalizing Philippine presence overseas and reallocating resources where these are most needed;
5. Bringing cost-effective consular services closer to the people by moving DFA offices to malls such as Ayala, Gaisano, Robinsons, SM, and Ali Mall;
6. Developing effective strategies to negotiate and assert the rightful position of the Philippines in the community of nations;
7. Submitted and awaiting the President’s approval of a new scheme for the Non-Resident Ambassadors (NRAs) to cover Africa and Central America;
8. Strongly encouraging all foreign service personnel to reach beyond their grasp, at all times, to promote the national interest;
9. Emphasizing the management approach of leadership by example; and
10. Embarking on 151 Official Missions over five (5) years to advance the three (3) Foreign Policy Pillars of the Philippines.
Results
Indeed, since 2012, the DFA has consistently ranked as one of the top government agencies, in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, in surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and the Makati Business Club (MBC).
In the SWS’ December 2015 survey results on the Aquino administration’s performance, four (4) out of 14 issues received the highest grade of “GOOD.” These are: “Helping the poor;” “Foreign relations;” “Promoting the welfare of OFWs;” and “Protecting the country’s territorial rights.” The DFA was directly responsible for delivering three (3) of the top four (4) issues.
On “Helping the poor,” DFA’s efforts have also directly and indirectly contributed by increasing to record-levels the Official Development Assistance or ODAs to the Philippines.
For the Makati Business Club survey for the Top 10 Government Agencies in the last three (3) years, DFA’s ranking has improved from 11th spot in 2012 there was no ranking in 2013 to #6 in 2014 and ranked #4 in 2015.
Accomplishments
With President Aquino’s guidance, the DFA provided leadership in the following major Philippine advocacies and priorities: signing of Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Indonesia Concerning Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary on the 23rd May of 2015; successful hosting of the 2015 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) on 18-19 November 2015; the launch of the ASEAN Community in December 2015; the PH-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Philippines’ arbitration case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague.
Other milestones in international diplomacy actively led by the DFA include the broadening and deepening of Philippine bilateral relations with valued partners through the signing of cooperation agreements, namely, the Philippines-Japan Joint Declaration on a Strengthened Strategic Partnership, Joint Declaration on Philippines-Australia Comprehensive Partnership, and Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Philippines-Vietnam Strategic Partnership.
In navigating through these complex issues, concerns and developments, the members of the DFA-accredited media have given valued contributions to the DFA’s efforts in promoting our national interest here and abroad.
Conclusion
To all my friends in the Philippine media:
I deeply appreciate the friendship, support and cooperation that you have accorded me.
And I want to thank all of you for your inherent love of our people and our country and for uniting with us in promoting our national interest.
And even after my term, it is my hope that you will continue to live by your commitment to serve our nation by keeping our people informed of the things that really matter.
I want to thank you with all humility for being here and I wish you all the very best in 2016.
Good afternoon.
OFFICE OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
