Foreign Affairs Secretary Romulo briefed the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the framework and content of the foreign policy of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stressing that “the Philippine Constitution, Philippine laws and our treaty obligations guide the Philippines in this challenging and changing world.”

In the briefing that lasted for one hour and thirty minutes, Secretary Romulo outlined before the members of the Committee, chaired by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the components and direction of Philippine foreign policy as well as the on the 8 realities that influence its implementation. “To direct us and steer us boldly through the shifting tides of international politics are the vision and leadership of the President, enunciated in her foreign policy realities.And to put some structure and form to our work, we have the Department’s three pillars of foreign policy,” Secretary Romulo said.

The Secretary declared before the Senators that from the Philippine Constitution “I will be guided by its provisions on foreign policy, particularly those in Article II, Section 7, to pursue an independent foreign policy with paramount consideration being national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest and right to self determination.” The Secretary said that he has emphasized this point in his first speech as Foreign Secretary on 24 August 2004 (refer to Press Release SFA-AGR-494-04, 24 August 2004).

Elaborating further on the implementation of foreign policy, Secretary Romulo said: “There are other specific provisions in the Constitution that will guide me, like the provisions on the renunciation of war, freedom from nuclear weapons, national territory, treaty concurrence and ratification process, absentee voting, and citizenship, among others. Most of these provisions in the Constitution were crafted with the help of the firm and judicious hands of one of our predecessors here Senator Blas F. Ople, whose voice was as deep as his words were wise, whether in the Constitutional Commission, in the Senate and in the DFA.”

He added that: further guidance is to be taken from the President’s foreign policy realities that have been elaborated in many of her speeches.

* First - China, Japan and the United States have a determining influence in the security situation and economic evolution of East Asia;

* Second - More and more Philippine foreign policy decisions have to be made in the context of ASEAN;

* Third - The International Islamic Community will become more and more important to the Philippines;

* Fourth - The coming years will see the redefinition of the role of multilateral and inter-regional organizations in promoting common interest;

* Fifth - The defense of the nation’s sovereignty, the protection of its environment and natural resources can be carried out only to the extent that we get others to respect our rights over our maritime territory;

* Sixth - The country’s economic growth will continue to require direct foreign investment and relations with the EU, the largest source of portfolio investments, will remain important;

* Seventh- A country like the Philippines can benefit most quickly from international tourism; and

* Eighth - Filipinos overseas will continue to play a critical role in the country’s economic and social stability.

These realities underscore the three pillars of foreign policy:

* First - the preservation and enhancement of national security; which is actually a political function of our missions abroad;

* Second - the promotion and attainment of economic security through the mobilization of external resources for economic advancement and social development, an economic function of our missions; and

* Third - the protection of the rights, and the promotion of the welfare and interests, of Filipinos overseas.

“These pillars overlap and cannot be considered apart from each other. Together with the foreign policy realities, they reinforce each other and must be addressed as one whole,” Secretary Romulo said.

“Foreign policy has substance if it brings change that is relevant. Foreign policy is most relevant when it works for the people. It is most relevant when it is shorn of its mystique and is better understood. And when it is better understood, when there is greater national support and consensus behind it, Philippine foreign policy is at its most effective.

I believe that it will be important to remain in close consultation with the Senate in building consensus behind our foreign policies,” the Secretary said.