There’s (glorious) life after DFA for Del Rosario

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO

Outgoing Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario is looking forward to a “glorious” life as a private citizen.

Del Rosario has stepped down from his post because of health reasons. His resignation will take effect on March 7.

In a luncheon with members of the media Thursday, the secretary was asked how he sees his life after he leaves the Department of Foreign Affairs, which he has headed for nearly six years.

“Life after DFA—a glorious one,” he said.

“I will be spending a lot of time with my grandchildren, with my family,” he said.

He will also spend the time in pursuit of good health, he said.

Del Rosario, 76, said he has no plans of returning to public service after his health issues are resolved.

He listed the achievements of the DFA during his watch, much of which he credited to President Aquino’s guidance.

He said the DFA was able to pursue a foreign policy that was independent, principled and based on the rule of law.

“We stand firmly in promoting and defending the Philippine national interest in the global arena. We helped raise the standards of economic diplomacy as a nation-branding strategy and an instrument of statecraft. We remain strongly committed to protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of overseas Filipinos everywhere,” he said.

 ‘Principled foreign policy’

His hope is that the next administration would embrace this “principled foreign policy.”

Del Rosario also cited among the DFA’s accomplishments the arbitration case that the Philippines has brought before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, the agreement with Indonesia on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary, the successful hosting of the 2015 Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting, and the launch of the Asean Community in December 2015.

But while there was keen interest in the South China Sea dispute, Del Rosario said handling the issue was just a small part of the DFA’s work.

Much of the department’s efforts are spent assisting Filipinos abroad. It’s just that not all of these gain public attention, he said.

Del Rosario also noted that since 2012, the DFA has consistently emerged as one of the top government agencies when it comes to efficiency and effectiveness in the surveys of the Social Weather Stations and the Makati Business Club.