DFA's FIRST POLICY CONSULTATIONS WITH HEADS OF POST OFFICIALLY OPENS  

21 March 2007 — The First Policy Consultations with Heads of Post, spearheaded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, officially opens today at the Renaissance Hotel, Makati, with the country's top diplomats from 60 Embassies, three Missions and eight Consulates General from all over the globe home to participate in the four-day event.  

Top officials from partner agencies such as NEDA, DTI, DOT, DOLE, AFP, NICA, OPAPP, NCCA, OP as well as prominent personalities from the private sector have been invited to discuss areas for cooperation and priority projects for promotion abroad.  

With the theme "Advancing the Three Pillars of Philippine Foreign Policy," discussions will revolve around foreign policy concerns and avenues for stronger inter-agency and public-private cooperation in the areas of economic security, national security, and the promotion and protection of the welfare of Filipinos overseas.  

Possible inter-agency projects as well as tie-ups with RP businesses and organizations will be explored in order to improve services in key areas such as Assistance to Nationals (ATM), trade promotion, political and security monitoring, as well as economic and public diplomacy opportunities in niche areas such as medical tourism, mining, BPOs and other areas where the Philippines is globally competitive.  

Economic Security concerns are the first topics on today's agenda in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's poverty alleviation thrusts and development objectives found in RP's Medium-Term Development Plan and the President's 10-Point Legacy Program.  

The morning session will cover RP's economic strengths as well as important strides made in the past few years including areas where RP's top diplomats can work together in order to sustain a robust Philippine economy for the years to come.  

Meanwhile, the afternoon session will cover key priority areas where economic diplomacy might be harnessed in order to advance RP's competitiveness in the fields of agriculture, mining, and energy.  

Plenary guest speakers include the country's top economic advisers such as NEDA Director-General Romulo Neri, the President's Chief-of-Staff Joey Salceda, DTI Secretary Peter Favila and Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo. Mr. Benjamin Philip Romualdez, President of the Chamber of Mines, will also be present to give insights into RP's mining industry from the private sector's point of view.  

Workshop sessions shall immediately follow each plenary session. The participants will be divided into four groups according to the geographic region where their Posts are situated, namely the Americas , Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Middle East and Africa .  

Chaired by the Assistant Secretaries of the Department’s Geographic Offices, these workshop sessions aim to consolidate RP's top diplomatic talents, know-how, and expertise in order to channel the country's foreign policy efforts into specific projects and deliverables geared towards advancing RP's national interests abroad.  

As the first day revolves around Economic Security matters, discussions and workshop outputs shall revolve around the various issues and priority areas mentioned above.  

At the end of this four-day event, the Department and Foreign Service Posts are expected to come up with key deliverables and flagship projects catering to pinpointed priority areas for incorporation into their respective work plans and eventual implementation for the calendar year's 2007-2010.  

The Policy Consultations with Heads of Post is the first of its kind to be organized in the country, and is in line with the Department’s goal of incorporating a pro-active approach for a more relevant and responsive Philippine foreign policy.  END

/jay

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