DFA launches RP treaties database in digital format

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has launched in digital format the “Philippine Treaties: 1946-2010” which contains the full text of the country’s international agreements.

Also launched during the same event is the book “Philippine Treaties Index: 1946-2010,” published by the FSI and written by J. Eduardo Malaya, Maria Antonina Mendoza-Oblena and Allan Casupanan, all from the DFA Office of Legal Affairs (OLA).

Present during the launching were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, deans and professors of Philippine law schools, and other Supreme Court and DFA officials.

In his message, Romulo said the treaties database represents the fruits of the labor of Filipino diplomats and other government officials in serving Philippine interests. 

“Wherever our national interests lie, our diplomats and other officials have deftly negotiated and signed accords and treaties of cooperation and solidarity with our international partners,” Romulo said. 

“Through the medium of new information technologies, we will be able to make the 1,660 treaties concluded by the Philippines since 1946 more accessible to our people

It is, in our view, a necessary extension of the principle ‘open arrangements, openly arrived at. It is also because a wealth of opportunities is made possible by our cooperation and exchanges with the international community, through the medium of treaties and other arrangements,” he added.

He said throughout the years, Philippine foreign policy has been oriented towards the enhancement of national security, the pursuit of economic diplomacy and the extension of full consular services to Filipino nationals wherever they may be. 

“The execution of these policies are guided by the Constitution, specifically the precepts that in relation with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest and the right to self-determination, and that the Philippines adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation and amity with all nations,” Romulo said.

The DFA head also highlighted that the provisions in these agreements present immense opportunities to the country and people.

“Our exporters, investors and the rest of the business community can avail of benefits from agreements on access to foreign markets, investment promotion and protection, and avoidance of double taxation. Farmers and fisherfolks may tap and become beneficiaries of technology transfers and official development assistance,” Romulo said.

“Our law enforcement agencies can better secure our communities through the valuable tools made available by extradition, mutual legal assistance and anti-terrorism arrangements.  Moreover, our youth and students may further expand their horizons through educational, scientific and cultural exchange programs.”

The establishment of the electronic database is a joint collaboration between the DFA-OLA and the Supreme Court’s Library Service.

The CD-ROM contains the full texts of all agreements concluded by the country from 1946 to date.

The DFA-OLA embarked on a Treaties Digitization Project in 2006, and received valuable assistance from the FSI, the Supreme Court’s Library Services and the Philippine Ambassadors’ Foundation. 

The database project initiator and coordinator is DFA-OLA Assistant Secretary J. Eduardo Malaya, while Supreme Court’s Chief of Library Services. Milagros Santos-Ong is lead person at the Supreme Court. 

The listings of bilateral and multilateral agreements in the index book are preceded by an introductory chapter on Philippine Treaty Practice, which provides an overview of the law and procedure in the negotiation and ratification of agreements. 

The project is the first-ever establishment of an electronic database on Philippine treaties. On the hand, the treaties index book was last published by DFA-OLA and FSI in 1983.