Romulo hails GMA's achievements as chief diplomat

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo yesterday hailed President Arroyo for the foreign policy achievements of her administration over the past nine years.

“In the field of foreign relations of which the President is the architect, her performance has been outstanding. Under her leadership, much has been accomplished,” Romulo told the gathering at the 112th anniversary celebration of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Romulo praised Mrs. Arroyo for pushing a “people-centered” foreign policy.

Romulo said Mrs. Arroyo exerted all efforts to spare Filipino workers from being killed or executed overseas.

“She would do whatever it took to make sure that no Filipino blood is spilt on foreign soil, thus she worked hard to have death sentences commuted.  She also made the veterans bill possible and secured the benefits due them,” Romulo said.

Romulo said the President made sure that every Filipino overseas would get the best of consular services that also allowed them to exercise their right of suffrage under the Overseas Absentee Voting system.

Romulo also highlighted Mrs. Arroyo’s efforts on national security, saying that she made sure that the Philippine territorial sovereignty is maintained in her foreign policies, particularly invoking the Baselines Law.

He said Mrs. Arroyo made possible the signing of the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea, the shift to an all-out peace policy in Mindanao, pushing for interfaith initiatives culminating in the hosting of the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development last March, strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations and ensured a nuclear-free world through the recently concluded, highly successful Philippine presidency of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Romulo said Mrs. Arroyo was able to attract a number of significant investments and official development assistance, particularly the boom in the business process outsourcing sector.

He also stressed that Philippine exports remained robust despite worldwide recession with Mrs. Arroyo’s economic initiatives that saw to the negotiation and implementation of agreements to liberalize and increase trade at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. 

“Indeed, the DFA owes a lot to the President. As her people in the foreign service, we have many things to thank her for,” Romulo said.  Compared to previous administrations, President Arroyo has appointed more career ambassadors and consuls general, at 72.83 percent, he said.

Romulo also thanked Mrs. Arroyo for signing Executive Order 461 in 2005 that upgraded the allowances of foreign service personnel. 

“With better standard of living, they can now honorably represent the country abroad. Finally, it is only during the President’s term that we were allowed to set up a provident fund, thus ensuring the financial security of DFA employees upon retirement,” he said. 

Romulo said Mrs. Arroyo is a major player in the international field.

“Her fellow heads of state listen to her. Listening to the debates, my fellow Foreign Ministers would approach me and express how impressed they are,” he said.

“A spring cannot rise above its source. Indeed, we are proud of the DFA’s achievements over the past years, but we owe it to the strong leadership and support of our President. These are her sterling achievements. And we in the Department are proud to have been her guiding and helping arm in achieving her visions for the country,” Romulo said.