MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs needs additional budget for further training of diplomatic personnel, according to Sen. Richard Gordon.
Foreign service officers do not only represent the Philippines but also serve as its “eyes and ears” so they must gain cultural knowledge of the country where they are detailed, Gordon said on Wednesday.
“Hindi lang language skills ang kailangan natin but experts in the country they’re posted in,” the senator said, adding that this is vital in defense- and business-related negotiations.
Philippine embassies must have experts who know not only the history and government but also the technical sophistication of the country where they are based, he said.
In the Middle East, for instance, there is a need for diplomats who are not only Arab-speaking but who also know how Arabs think, said Gordon.
“Dapat they can provide an in-depth analysis of events happening in their posts,” he said. “We should be adequately prepared so we can study the world and we can make the right decisions.”
The Foreign Affairs department must ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, be aware of market trends, and identify the security strengths of foreign countries, said Gordon.
“That’s why it’s so important [to have foreign country experts],” he said. “I really think we take it for granted.”
Describing the DFA as the “premiere Cabinet position in the country,” Gordon said the agency is “our eyes and ears to the whole world.”
“They listen to the footsteps … they look at trends. And that’s why we have to fully support them going forward,” he said./PN
