QuestionsQuestions (PhilHealth Circular No. 016-2015)
The EO cites the Provisional Constitution (Art. II, Sec. 1 in Proclamation No. 3, March 25, 1986), and the 1987 Constitution provisions recognizing continuing reorganization powers (Art. XVIII, Secs. 16 and 6).
The State pursues an independent foreign policy to design and harness foreign relations in pursuit of rapid national recovery and sustained long-term growth, with goals including sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, national interest, self-determination, and commitment to international peace.
The DFA shall advise and assist the President in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, integrating and evaluating the total national effort in the field of foreign relations.
Examples include: conducting foreign relations consistent with Presidential policy; maintaining and developing representation with foreign governments; conducting Philippine representation in UN/ASEAN/other orgs; serving as the channel for official communications to and from the Republic; negotiating treaties and other agreements upon Presidential instructions and coordination as necessary.
The authority and responsibility for discharging the DFA’s powers and functions are vested in the Secretary, who is appointed by the President and exercises supervision and control over the Department and the Foreign Service.
The Secretary may designate Special Advisers (e.g., Chiefs of Mission on home assignment on specific areas) and may create advisory boards and committees as deemed necessary for policy formulation and other bodies required by existing laws, rules and regulations.
It includes the Department Proper, Home Offices, and Foreign Service Establishments (embassies, consulates, legations, and permanent missions). Under the Secretary are specified offices (Legal Adviser; Coordination and Policy Planning; Data Banking and Communication; Protocol; Intelligence and Security), plus directly supervised agencies and Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries.
There are two (2) Undersecretaries and six (6) Assistant Secretaries. Both are appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary.
It provides legal advice and services to the Department, and is headed by a Legal Adviser who is a career Chief of Mission, unless appointed from outside the career service with assimilated rank and specific tenure limitations.
It assists the Secretary on data banking and information retrieval; establishes and maintains computerized foreign-relations data banks; develops domestic and foreign service communications systems; establishes records systems; and provides technical assistance within its competence.
It coordinates state visit and high-level dignitary protocols, reception arrangements, and official visit preparations, and handles protocol/ceremonial matters including observance and enforcement of formalities, courtesies, immunities and privileges under relevant international conventions.
It adopts systems for information gathering and analysis, liaises with the intelligence community, provides security services, and enforces and monitors security procedures in the Department and Foreign Service establishments.
It has nine (9) members (including Undersecretary Chairman and Vice-Chairman, heads of certain offices, the Legal Adviser, and four others designated by the Secretary). It recommends administrative and personnel policies and submits recommendations regarding appointments/promotions of Foreign Service officers (through the Secretary to the President), and acts on administrative cases.
It is under administrative supervision of one Undersecretary. It plans and administers examinations for Foreign Service Officers and Staff Officers/Staff Employees. It includes the Undersecretary as Chairman, the Head of Personnel and Administrative Services, and a Civil Service Commission Commissioner.
The Law of the Sea Secretariat is transferred from the Office of the Prime Minister to the DFA; and the SOCCOM, IATC-TCDC, and PITCHEM inter-agency technical committees are transferred from NEDA to the DFA.
Within 120 days from approval, the Secretary must submit studies including (1) a new classification of diplomatic/consular establishments using specified criteria; (2) a rotation plan aligned with best-preparation training and existing rotation policy; (3) recommendations for consolidation and creation of posts; and (4) measures for efficient DFA supervision/control of foreign service posts.
They are deemed separated from the service and are entitled to the benefits provided in the second paragraph of Section 25.