Department of Foreign Affairs

 Over one hundred years ago, the DFA had

its auspicious beginnings when President
Emilio Aguinaldo appointed Apolinario Mabini
as the Republic's first Secretary of Foreign
Affairs on 23 June 1898, eleven days after
the declaration of Philippine independence at
Kawit, Cavite.
 Commonwealth Act No. 732 was passed creating the
Department of Foreign Affairs.  Shortly thereafter,
President Manuel Roxas issued on September 16 of
that year Executive Order No. 18 providing for the
organization and operation of the DFA and the
Foreign Service.  The main tasks of the DFA then
were to assist in post-war rehabilitation, formulate
policies for investment promotion, and establish
diplomatic relations with other countries.
 Realizing the importance of foreign relations,
President Elpidio Quirino in June 1952 pushed for
the passage of the Foreign Service Act of 1952,
embodied in Republic Act No. 708.  During the post-
war period, the DFA focused on institution building,
closer engagement with Asian neighbors, and
increasing Philippine global linkages.  In 1953,
Secretary Raul S. Manglapus instituted the Foreign
Affairs Officers examination (now Foreign Service
Officers examination) to professionalize the Foreign
Service and improve the recruitment and selection of
new FSOs.
 The Marcos years, from 1965 to 1986, were marked
by policy innovations and then difficulties brought
about by the excesses of the martial law regime. 
President Ferdinand Marcos redefined foreign policy
as the safeguarding of territorial integrity and
national dignity, and emphasized increased regional
cooperation and collaboration.  He stressed
"Asianness" and pursued a policy of constructive
unity and co-existence with other Asian states,
regardless of ideological persuasion.
 In 1967, the Philippines launched a new initiative to
form a regional association with other Southeast
Asian countries called the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).  The Philippines also
normalized economic and diplomatic ties with China
and the USSR, which President Marcos visited in
1975 and 1976, respectively.  The Philippines also
opened embassies in the eastern bloc countries, as
well as a separate mission to the European Common
Market in Brussels.
 Throughout the 1970s, the DFA pursued the
promotion of trade and investments, played
an active role in hosting international
meetings, and participated in the meetings of
the Non-Aligned Movement.  The Foreign
Service Institute was created in 1976 to
provide in-house training to Foreign Service
personnel.
 The EDSA Revolution in 1986 saw the re-
establishment of a democratic government
under President Corazon Aquino.  During this
period, the DFA once again pursued
development diplomacy, in the active pursuit
of opportunities abroad in the vital areas of
trade, investment, finance, technology and
aid.
 The Ramos administration from July 1992 to
June 1998 defined the four core priorities of
Philippine foreign policy namely: the
enhancement of national security, promotion
of economic diplomacy, protection of
overseas Filipino workers and Filipino
nationals abroad, and the projection of a
good image of the country abroad.
 President Ramos boosted foreign trade,
investments and official development
assistance to the Philippines through his
state visits and summit meetings.
 The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos
Act of 1995 (R.A. 8042) provided a
framework for stronger protection of Filipino
workers abroad, with the creation of the
Legal Assistance Fund and the Assistance-
to-Nationals Fund, and the designation in the
DFA of a Legal Assistant for Migrant
Workers' Affairs, with the rank of
Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs.
 The DFA is also guided by the three fundamental
pillars of Philippine foreign policy.  These are:
1.   Preservation and enhancement of national
security;
2.   Promotion and attainment of economic security;
3.   Protection of the rights and promotion of the
welfare and interest of Filipinos overseas.
MISSION.

 TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE

PHILIPPINES AND THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD COMMUNITY.
VISION.

 THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN

AFFAIRS is the prime agency of government
responsible for the pursuit of the State's
foreign policy and the nerve center for a
Foreign Service worthy of the trust and pride
of every Filipino.
OBJECTIVES.
 To contribute to the enhancement of national security and the
protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty;
 To participate in the national endeavor to sustain development
and to enhance the Philippines' competitive edge in a global
milieu;
 To protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos
overseas and to mobilize them as partners in national
development;
 To project a positive image of the Philippines;
 To increase international understanding of Philippine culture for
mutually-beneficial relations with other countries; and,
 To increase and maximize human, financial, technological and
other resources to optimize the performance of the Department.
Organisational Structure
 The DFA has eleven principal offices. The geographic offices
manage political and economic relations in different regions
and pursue Philippine interests in multilateral organizations,
These include the following: Office of American Affairs; Office
of Asia and Pacific Affairs; Office of European Affairs; Office of
Middle East and African Affairs; Office of ASEAN Affairs; and
the Office of United Nations and International Organizations.
The line offices are the following:  Office of Personnel and
Administrative Services, Office of Legal Affairs, Office of
Consular Affairs, and the Office of Protocol and State Visits.
  
The Office of the Secretary (OSEC)
 Advises the President on matters relating to the
formulation and execution of Philippine Foreign Policy. Its
functions include the administration and coordination of
Philippine foreign relations; the promulgation of rules and
regulations which may be necessary to carry out foreign
policy objectives and the delegation of authority to
perform any function or set of functions to officers and
employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs necessary
for the conduct of Philippine foreign relations and the
delegation of authority to perform any function or set of
functions to officers and employees necessary for the
conduct of Philippine foreign relations
Office of the Undersecretary for
Administration

 R. A. 7157 defines the role of an Undersecretary of the

Department of Foreign Affairs as follows - to advise and
assist the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the formulation
and implementation of the Department's objectives and
policies, as well as [to] coordinate and oversee the
operational activities of the Departments.
 The Office of the Undersecretary for Administration aids
the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and provides him advice
on matters relating to the general operations of the
Department of Foreign Affairs, its regional offices and
Philippine Foreign Service Posts and all other
administrative matters and concerns
Office of the Undersecretary for Policy

 The Office of the Undersecretary for Policy aids the Secretary of Foreign Affairs
by providing advice on matters relating to the formulation and execution of
Philippine foreign policy, particularly on bilateral, regional and international
political and security issues. Its functions specifically include: (1) promoting the
multilateral and bilateral relations of the Philippines with other states; (2)
providing policy recommendations to the President and the Philippine
legislature through the Secretary of Foreign Affairs on all matters involving the
promotion of diplomatic relations with other states, as well as for the
advancement of other political and security agenda in other fora; (3)
coordinating with other concerned government agencies on the formulation of
Philippine positions on various regional and international political and security
issues and; (4) attending, in support of the Secretary, multilateral and bilateral
fora pertaining to political and security matters, and in other meetings when
regional and international political and security issues are tabled in the agenda
for discussion.
Office of the Undersecretary for
Migrant and Workers Affairs

 Created by Republic Act No. 8042, or the Migrant Workers

and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, the Office of the
Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs aids the
Secretary of Foreign Affairs and provides advice on
matters relating to the formulation and execution of
Philippine foreign policy relating to the protection of the
dignity, fundamental rights and freedoms of Filipino
citizens abroad, while giving particular attention to the
protection and promotion of the welfare and dignity of
overseas Filipinos. It is the third pillar of Philippine foreign
policy and one of the highest priority concerns of the
Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Foreign
Service Posts.
Office of the Undersecretary for
Special and Ocean Concerns

 The Offices of the Undersecretaries advise and

assist the Secretary in the formulation and
implementation of the Department's objectives and
policies, and coordinate and oversee the operational
activities of the Department, performing specific
duties and task according to each Office's expertise 
The Office of the Undersecretary for Special and
Ocean Concerns aids the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs and provides him advice on matters relating
to identified special issues and concerns of the
Department
Office of the Undersecretary for
International Economic Relations

 The Office of the Undersecretary for International

Economic Relations is principally in-charge with
implementing and coordinating the responsibilities and
functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs relating to
trade and investments, science and technology, the
environment and sustainable development, official
development cooperation and other related
economic/social concerns, particularly those related to
issues on women and youth vis-à-vis other countries, in
cooperation with all Philippine government agencies
concerned and the private sector.
 Several undersecretaries assist the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs in the formulation of Department
policies and objectives and in coordinating and
overseeing the operational activities of the DFA. The
Undersecretary for Policy directly supervises the
geographic offices and the Office while the
Undersecretary for Administration handles the
functional offices. In line with the three foreign policy
pillars, the other Undersecretaries are in charge of
migrant workers' affairs, the conduct of international
economic relations, and  security-related and other
special concerns.
Indonesia's MFA

 Foreign Policy, Vision and Mission

Direction of Indonesian Foreign Policy

1.         To take on a more significant role and leadership in

ASEAN and in the establishment of ASEAN Community 2015

2.         To take on a more significant role in preserving

national security and creating world peace

Diplomacy and facilitation of international

cooperation is conducted to support the integrity and
unity of Indonesia and to secure its natural resources.
4.         To improve the quality of services
for and protection of Indonesian citizens
and Indonesian legal entities overseas
(i)     Improvement of citizen services in the 24
overseas representatives
(ii)    Facilitation of cooperation with destination
countries of Indonesian citizens

A number of meetings with destination countries are held to

strengten cooperation to address problems and ensure better
protection of Indonesian citizens overseas.
(iii)   Technical coordination with the relevant local
government and local agency

5.         To create a more positive image

of Indonesia through advancement of
democracy and human rights, and
protection of culture heritage.
 
7.   To improve the quality of economic
diplomacy in multilateral forums through:
Indonesia’s active participation in multilateral
forums such as WTO, APEC, G-20, and G-
33 to further promote the interest of
Indonesian and other developing countries.
Indonesia’s initiatives and ideas need to be
supported in each meeting.
8.         To increase the South-South
cooperation, through the development of
the South-South cooperation.