Drilon asks DFA to reduce number of diplomatic posts

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Franklin Drilon has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to reduce the number of diplomatic posts, particularly in countries where Filipino presence is minimal, as a cost cutting measure.

“We are not a rich country which can just keep on opening embassies all over the place. It is as if our finances are never ending,” Drilon, chairman of the committee on finance, said.

It takes P57 million to P125 million a year to maintain an embassy or consular office.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the country has 67 embassies, 23 consular offices and four missions abroad.

Romulo told the committee that diplomatic posts are opened based on political, economic and security considerations.

Drilon stressed the Philippines does not have the resources to operate embassies and consular offices “in almost every corner of the world.”

Drilon cited the case of Romania, Hungary and Poland, where the Philippines maintains embassies despite the small number of Filipinos living in the three countries. 

He pointed out that there are only 377 Filipinos in Romania, 170 in Hungary and 245 in Poland.

Trade with Romania and Hungary stood at a combined $80 million, and with Poland, $51 million.

In comparison, trade with Singapore is at $6.2 billion; Malaysia, $3.1 billion; and Indonesia, $2.1 billion.

Drilon said the DFA should also review the standards being used to determine where to set up and maintain diplomatic posts.

“I would like to think that there was really a substantial number of our compatriots in a particular country that would justify an embassy, because if we say that once there are Filipinos in a particular place, we will put our embassy in every corner of this universe. Given our limited resour-ces, we should rationalize our presence in many countries,” Drilon said.

In response, Romulo said the DFA is “certainly willing to review the criteria for all of this.”

Jobs in UAE

Meanwhile, United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said his country is planning to take in more Filipino workers, invest in agriculture in the Philippines, and help vigorously in fighting human trafficking.

The official conveyed this message to Vice President Jejomar Binay in a courtesy call as the Philippines and the UAE marked the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

“The Foreign Minister said his government is willing to be of help in trying to curb and solve human trafficking problem,” Binay said in a press briefing. Binay is also presidential adviser on OFW concerns.

“They look forward to investing in our agriculture sector as President Aquino has informed them of the need (for) some investments in agriculture. The emphasis of Gulf countries is exportation of their oil and they import a lot of food,” Binay said.

“We thank the UAE for the help extended to our Filipino workers. I am looking forward to working closely with the authorities to address labor concerns,” Binay added. – Marvin Sy, Pia Lee-Brago