Trillanes seeks creation of foreign policy advisory board

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed a bill which seeks for the creation of an independent Foreign Policy Advisory Board (FPAB) which will have the same status as that of a national agency under the Office of the President.

The creation of the proposed FPAB would ensure that foreign policy decisions would be made by President Rodrigo Duterte only after considering inputs from senior-level leaders with a wide array of backgrounds.

"It is hoped that thru the passage of this bill, we would be able to develop our own effective, holistic and truly independent long-term foreign policy system," Trillanes said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been the sole source of foreign policy initiatives in the country but the Philippines is now facing various national security issues and territorial disputes, the senator said.

"To institute an effective and holistic foreign policy, we have to invest not only in the capacity of the DFA, but we should also harness the country's qualified and capable bureaucracy," the senator said.

The proposed FPAB will be composed of a chair and eight members who must be natural-born Filipino citizens of the Philippines and must be at least 40 years old at the time of appointment.

Members must have previously served as a senior-level officer of the government or the private sector with at least 15 years of service or experience of leadership.

At least two of the members of the board must be former officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or of the Philippine National Police with the rank of brigadier or chief superintendent while two others should be former diplomats of the country.

The board should also include two members who will represent former overseas Filipino workers while the remaining two should come from the ranks of businessmen and professionals.

The proposed FPAB will have the following powers and functions:

• To define the priorities and strategic frameworks for the Philippine foreign policy
• To identify trends that affect our national security interests
• To assess global threats and opportunities and formulate the appropriate responses and/or interventions to ensure that the interest of the country is always protected
• To review the effectivity and relevance of the existing Philippine foreign policy frameworks, plans and programs
• To provide advice and/or recommendations on foreign policy matters with respect to the tools and capacities of the Department
• To conduct continuing data and information gathering as well as the review, discussion, analysis and assessment thereof and provide the necessary feedback to the President and other government offices, agencies and/or instrumentalities
• To perform any and all other research functions and/or execute any project on issues as may be prescribed or requested by the President and/or other responsible government offices, agencies and/or instrumentalities

The 1987 Constitution states that the "State shall pursue an independent foreign policy, In its relations with other states the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination."

The proposed measure defines foreign policy as the course or principle of action employed by the government in its interaction with other state and non-state actors.

Upon assuming office, Duterte said that his government will be pursuing an independent foreign policy.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella earlier said that the shift towards an independent foreign policy will have a positive effect on the country's well-being and prosperity.