DFA asserts role as PH’s ‘authoritative’ voice on regional and international issues

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday asserted its role as the Philippines’ primary voice on global issues, calling diplomacy “indispensable” to securing the country’s strategic interests.

Amid heated public exchanges between Philippine officials and the Chinese embassy in Manila, the DFA named former naval and Coast Guard officer turned diplomat Rogelio Villanueva as its spokesperson on maritime affairs, a position that will tackle issues related to the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea disputes.

With this move, the DFA is expected to take the lead in providing official government statements and policy direction on maritime concerns, particularly on its territorial rifts with China.

In his first media engagement Monday, Villanueva emphasized the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in managing conflicts, while stressing that the country will actively assert its rights over the resource-rich waters being claimed by China as its own.

“The DFA remains the Philippines’ authoritative voice on regional and international issues,” said Villanueva, a senior career diplomat assigned at the agency’s maritime and ocean affairs office.

“Guided by sober assessment of facts on the ground…respect for other institutions' bandwidth and the highest professional standards, Philippine diplomacy is focused, agile, and decisive, amid regional uncertainty.”

Despite challenges, he said the DFA is committed to pursuing its mandate “patiently, resolutely and without fanfare.”

He pointed out that having “responsible, principled interactions with all states, including China” is possible while safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity and maritime positions.

Through the years, he said the DFA has consistently led efforts to uphold Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction by calling out infringements by China.

It has also consistently promoted the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award, issued diplomatic protests against illegal activities in the country’s maritime domain and delivered direct statements at the highest international levels against rule of law violations, Villanueva said.

“The DFA recognizes that policy instruments must work in tandem - defensive capabilities and transparency serve vital ends, but diplomacy remains indispensable for securing the country's strategic priorities,” he said.

Guided by this framework, he said the country was able to advance its West Philippine Sea objectives, exemplified by the provisional understanding on resupplying BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal. Manned by a small Filipino navy contingent, Sierra Madre serves as a military outpost and a symbol of Philippine sovereignty.

Manila negotiated in 2024 a landmark agreement with Beijing on a provisional arrangement for the Philippine delivery of supplies to Filipino forces at Ayungin to prevent a repeat of past violent confrontations.

Since July that year, the agreement “has enabled 12 incident-free rotation and re-provisioning missions,” said Villanueva.

“This demonstrates how effective and sustained diplomacy manages underground risks, while enabling routine activities, fostering innovative solutions, and positive outcomes,” he said.

“Progress may be incremental, but lasting solutions are negotiated over time,” he said as he called for “credible, coherent, disciplined, and professional initiatives that properly advance the national interest.” — BAP, GMA Integrated News