A People-Centered Policy by Dr. Alberto G. Romulo

(Opening statement at the presentation of FY2007 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs House Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives September 6, 2006.)

Thank you for inviting us to this hearing and providing us with the opportunity to share with you and the members of the Committee the Department of Foreign Affairs’ accomplishments, programs and concerns in the implementation of our country’s foreign policy.

The Philippines in a globalizing world

Philippine foreign policy is an extension of our domestic policy. While Philippine foreign policy is advanced on foreign soil, at its heart is always the Filipino.

Over more than 100 years, our foreign policy has been defined by a resolute pursuit of our nation’s interests amid the interplay of forces and conditions that shape the international global community. As the nation and the world evolve, so too have our foreign relations.

Today, advances in technology have enabled the world to shrink, and geography and distance have been proven negligible in the development equation.

Wider windows of opportunities have also been opened, where chances waiting at the other side of the world can be seized in an instant.

A smaller world, however, does not necessarily mean that its complexities can be grasped in the palm of our hands. In fact, our shrinking world has paradoxically extended the reach and scope of responsibilities.

In out global community, relations between and among nations have developed interdepen¬dencies and connections which are at times so intricate and sensitive. This behooves the architects and implementers of our foreign policy to harness resources and skills to ensure that all is well both at home and in the community of nations.

This July, the Philippines assumed the all-important role of chairing the Asean. In pursuing the theme of “One Caring and Sharing Community,” the Philippines will push for key initiatives such as a “Declaration on the Rights and Protection of Migrant Workers,” an “Asean Agreement on Energy Security Cooperation” and an “Asean Convention on Counterterrorism.”
In the course of our chairmanship, the Philippines will push for a Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of the Asean Charter and the creation of a High-Level Drafting Group for the Asean Charter.

We are expected to host a total of 75 meetings, including the 12th Asean Summit, the 2nd East Asia Summit, the 40th Asean Ministerial Meeting and the regular Asean Senior Officials and Directors’ General Meetings.

DFA is also Dynamically Fostering Alliances

The DFA actively participated in the realization of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she secured the release of 500 OFWs detained in Saudi prisons.

In a few days, the Philippines will once again be at the center of deepening our engagement with our international partners. The President will visit Helsinki, Finland, for the 6th Asia-Europe Leaders’ Meeting (ASEM 6), the Kingdom of Belgium, the European Community, the United Kingdom, Havana, Cuba, for the 14th Non-Aligned Movement Summit, and Hawaii for the commemoration of the Centennial of Filipino Migration to the United States of America.

Future direction and fiscal implications

Guided by President Arroyo’s eight realities of foreign policy, DFA is committed to build on the successes we have achieved over the past year.

For fiscal year 2007, the department’s budget reflects the requirements needed for the performance of its vital services to the country, to the Filipino people and our obligations to the international community.

It is worthy to note that, to pursue our goal of sustaining a people-centered foreign policy, DFA is seeking a budget of P7.33 billon, which is only 0.65 percent of the total budget being proposed by the national government to Congress.
I wish to once again emphasize that the demands on the department have increased but the cost of carrying out our mandate has not decreased.

Mr. Chairman, honorable members of the commission, we submit to you today the proposed budget of the department.

May I also bring to the ho¬no¬ra¬ble committee members’ attention the fiscal inequities as well as some realities that require a higher budgetary outlay for the department:

• There is an urgent need to upgrade the salary levels of DFA personnel by two grades to be at par with other national government agencies;

• The unrealistic foreign-exchange rate used by the DFA¬pegged at P41 to $1¬must be adjusted to reflect the real exchange rate;

• The critical and immediate need for an additional 1,097 permanent positions. Equity demands no less for the outstanding service rendered by the DFA’s contractual and casual employees who comprise the backbone of the department’s human resources;

• The full implementation of Executive Order 461 or the Revised Compensation Plan of the Foreign Service to address the reality of the high cost of living in many parts of the world; and

• The need to increase the DFA Building Fund from 10 percent to 25 percent of consular income. A well-developed properties acquisition program is a more cost-effective option which constitute a long-term investment of resources benefiting the national government.

A people-centered foreign policy

At the core of the Department of Foreign Affairs lies a people-centered foreign policy.

This foreign policy is sustained, nurtured and upheld through the dedication and hard work of the department’s officers and staff, one of the leanest staff complements of all the government agencies in the country.

We at the department strongly believe that a people-centered foreign policy is focused and delivers excellent service to our citizens wherever he or she may be in this globalized world. This level of service begins at home.

And for our estimated 85 million strong countrymen, the DFA is more than just an acronym for the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The DFA stands for Delivering Fast Assistance

In line with our goal of streaming and upgrading the department’s frontline operations, we have implemented projects such as “Oplan Fastport” and “Project 30-15” which guaranteed the quick delivery and processing of passport and authentication of documents.

The DFA stands for Delivering in Far Areas

Indeed, we have worked to bring our passport services directly to the people through our Mobile Passport Services. For the period January to August 2006 alone, we have conducted 190 Mobile Passport Service, spanning 97 congressional districts, 136 municipalities and cities in 53 provinces from Aparri to Tawi-Tawi.

The DFA Defends Filipinos Abroad

Meeting major crisis situations

In 2006 alone, the DFA was faced with¬and effectively responded to¬a total of seven major crisis situations. We secured the safety of out nationals directly in harm’s way overseas. And we gained the respect of our global partners and set an example for the international community.

These seven crisis situations involve the evacuation of our OFWs from Lebanon, three incidents of OFW kidnappings in Nigeria, two OFW kidnappings in Somalia, and the crisis situation in East Timor.

Most recently, we were at the forefront of securing the lives of over 30,000 Filipinos in Lebanon and 6,000 Filipinos in Northern Israel directly in harm’s way. Our evacuation efforts drew praise from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the speedy and orderly manner in which these were conducted.

We continue with that resolve today.

With our stakeholders, we obtained the release of six Filipinos kidnapped while working in Nigeria and 32 Filipino crewmembers taken hostage in Somali waters.

We brought back home to safety 90 Filipinos facing mortal danger amid the civil unrest in Dili, East Timor. These included two youths, an infant and a pregnant woman.

And as we stand prepared to meet head-on any other crisis situation, we continue to work for the release and repatriation of our imprisoned kababayan abroad, providing them with legal assistance among other needs.

To sustain our commitment in promoting a people-centered foreign policy, the DFA is also Developing Foreign Assistance.

For this year alone, the department was able to secure more than $61 million in official development assistance from partner countries such Japan, Spain and the United States of America.

We have likewise aggressively pursued the promotion of our country as a preferred investment destination.

Among the fruits of our Foreign Service posts efforts in this area is the Philippines’ upgrading as an investment destination by Calpers Fund, ahead of Malaysia, China, Russia and India.

Aside from foreign assistance, the DFA is also Deepening Friend¬¬ships with Asean.

With your support and the DFA’s firm commitment to service, we can look forward to sustaining the momentum of a foreign policy that is people-centered in a globalizing world.

Source: Sunday (Manila) Times
Published on: Sunday, October 14, 2007
By: Dr. Alberto G. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/14/yehey/opinion/20071014opi6.html