DFA chief is management awardee

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert E. Del Rosario has been named “Management Man of the Year 2014” by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), a “resounding vote of confidence” for the agency he represents.

According to MAP, Del Rosario was chosen, among other reasons, for “raising the standards of economic diplomacy by pursuing an independent and principled foreign policy and for standing firmly in staunchly defending the Philippine national interest in the global arena; restoring morale in the DFA by limiting the number of political appointees and placing merit over seniority in the career advancement process for foreign service personnel, and for rationalizing Philippine presence overseas and reallocating resources to where these are most needed.”

The MAP explained that Del Rosario significantly contributed to reshaping national values by setting an example that Filipino professional managers could emulate through his track record of integrity, professional competence and strong leadership in his management career in both public and private sectors.

Del Rosario was sworn in as DFA secretary in February 2011, and has since traveled on nearly 120 missions to advance Philippine positions; to promote and protect overseas Filipino workers, and to negotiate bilateral and multilateral agreements.

In his acceptance speech at the awarding ceremony Monday, Del Rosario disclosed that since 2012, the DFA has pursued 60 political and defense cooperation agreements and 121 economic cooperation agreements—all of which have significantly promoted national interest and the Philippine development agenda.

“One would ask where our foreign policy would lead us. It will continue to evolve. It will be defined by our national leadership and the ever changing international environment. It will succeed with our creative ability to negotiate and assert our rightful place in the community of responsible nations,” Del Rosario said.

“In facing the challenges of the 21st century, the DFA is posturing itself to be smarter, leaner and more innovative,” he further added.