How to Secure a Job at DFA PH in 2023: Unlock Your Path to Success!

Securing a job at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) can be a fulfilling and exciting opportunity. As a government agency responsible for promoting and protecting the interests of the Philippines and its citizens abroad, the DFA offers a wide range of career paths for individuals passionate about international relations, diplomacy, and public service.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of getting a job at DFA PH, from understanding the agency’s requirements to acing the application process.

About DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA; Filipino: Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas) is the executive department of the Philippine government tasked to contribute to the enhancement of national security and the protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty, to participate in the national endeavor of sustaining development and enhancing the Philippines’ competitive edge, to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and to mobilize them as partners in national development, to project a positive image of the Philippines, and to increase international understanding of Philippine culture for mutually-beneficial relations with other countries.

Career Opportunities at DFA PH

The DFA offers a diverse range of career opportunities spanning various fields, including diplomacy, foreign service, consular services, administration, and support functions. Visit the official DFA PH website or job portals like GovJobs.ph to explore the available positions. Read through the job descriptions, qualifications, and requirements to identify the roles that match your skills, qualifications, and aspirations.

Qualifications and Requirements

Each position at DFA PH has specific qualifications and requirements that applicants must meet. Carefully review the qualifications, educational background, work experience, and other requirements stated in the job postings. Ensure that you possess the necessary qualifications to increase your chances of success. If there are any gaps in your qualifications, consider acquiring additional skills or experiences that will make you a stronger candidate.

How to Apply

Are you ready to join the DFA Family and embark on a fulfilling career? If you possess the qualities and skills that the DFA seeks in its employees, now is the time to take the first step and apply for a job at DFA.

Seize this opportunity to become a part of a dynamic and impactful organization by submitting your application today!

READ MORE: DFA has vacant opportunities available to apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit in PDF format the following requirements via email at hrmo.recruitment@dfa.gov.ph and write in the subject line (e.g. Application for Economist II at OUMAIER).

• Duly accomplished DFA application form with colored photo (downloadable at https://dfa.gov.ph/images/2022/Forms/DFA_Application_Form_Revision_02.pdf)
• Duly accomplished Work Experience Sheet (click here) (if applicable)
• Updated resumé with colored photo
• Copy of professional or second-level civil service eligibility
• Copy of transcript of records and diploma
• Copy/ies of relevant in-service training certificates
• Valid NBI clearance (or proof of renewal or new application)
• Certificate/s of Good Moral Character from current/previous employer or school, whichever is applicable, may be required by HRMO during the selection process.

The opportunity for employment shall be open to all qualified applicants regardless of age, gender, civil status, disability, religion, ethnicity, social status, income class, paternity and filiation, political affiliation, or other similar factors/personal circumstances pursuant to existing government laws, rules, and regulations.

Incomplete submission of documents will not be accepted/processed.

The most qualified applicants will be invited for a test and interview at the email address indicated in their application form.

Conclusion

Securing a job at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is an exciting prospect for individuals passionate about diplomacy, international relations, and public service. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can increase your chances of landing a job at DFA PH.

Remember to understand the agency, explore career opportunities, meet the qualifications and requirements, prepare your application documents diligently, and demonstrate professionalism throughout the process. With perseverance, continuous learning, and a genuine commitment to serving the Filipino people, you can make your dream of joining DFA PH a reality.

Historical Background

The history of the Republic of the Philippines and that of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are intertwined.  The important events marking the passage of the years at the Department are also milestones in the rise of the Philippines as an independent nation.

Over one hundred years ago, the DFA had its auspicious beginnings when President Emilio Aguinaldo appointed Apolinario Mabini as the Republic's first Secretary of Foreign Affairs on 23 June 1898, eleven days after the declaration of Philippine independence at Kawit, Cavite.  The DFA was among the first government departments created following the establishment of the First Philippine Republic.  Realizing the need for international recognition of the new government, Aguinaldo assigned Mabini the difficult task of establishing diplomatic relations with friendly countries.  Members of the Hong Kong Junta, a group of Filipino exiles in Hong Kong, served as the country's envoys for this purpose.

The Philippines underwent colonial rule under the United States from 1898 to 1946, and Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1944.  The country regained independence, including full control of foreign affairs and diplomatic matters, on 4 July 1946.  Commonwealth Act No. 732 was passed creating the Department of Foreign Affairs.  Shortly thereafter, President Manuel Roxas issued on September 16 of that year Executive Order No. 18 providing for the organization and operation of the DFA and the Foreign Service.  The main tasks of the DFA then were to assist in post-war rehabilitation, formulate policies for investment promotion, and establish diplomatic relations with other countries.

The DFA led in the conclusion of the RP-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty, as well as in the Laurel-Langley Agreement, thus paving the way for a balanced yet robust trade and military relations with the United States.

The DFA had a heyday during the post-war years, with its increased participation in the international arena.  It became a founding member of the United Nations and one of the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It helped forge the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).  The country was also an early proponent of decolonization and global disarmament.  The Philippines' dynamic participation in global matters culminated in Carlos P. Romulo's election as the first Asian President of the UN General Assembly in 1952.  At that time, the international environment began to change, requiring that new thrusts and priorities in Philippine foreign policy be determined.  During the Cold War era, against the backdrop of the Korean War and rising communism in China, the Philippines pursued an increasing internationalist foreign policy.

Realizing the importance of foreign relations, President Elpidio Quirino in June 1952 pushed for the passage of the Foreign Service Act of 1952, embodied in Republic Act No. 708.  During the post-war period, the DFA focused on institution building, closer engagement with Asian neighbors, and increasing Philippine global linkages.  When he became Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs under the Magsaysay Administration, Raul S. Manglapus instituted the Foreign Service Officers’ Examinations to professionalize the foreign service and to upgrade the recruitment and selection of new foreign service officers.

The Marcos years, from 1965 to 1986, were marked by policy innovations and then difficulties brought about by the excesses of the martial law regime.  President Ferdinand Marcos redefined foreign policy as the safeguarding of territorial integrity and national dignity, and emphasized increased regional cooperation and collaboration.  He stressed "Asianness" and pursued a policy of constructive unity and co-existence with other Asian states, regardless of ideological persuasion.  In 1967, the Philippines launched a new initiative to form a regional association with other Southeast Asian countries called the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  The Philippines also normalized economic and diplomatic ties with China and the USSR, which President Marcos visited in 1975 and 1976, respectively.  The Philippines also opened embassies in the eastern bloc countries, as well as a separate mission to the European Common Market in Brussels.

Throughout the 1970s, the DFA pursued the promotion of trade and investments, played an active role in hosting international meetings, and participated in the meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement.  The Foreign Service Institute was created in 1976 to provide in-house training to Foreign Service personnel.

The EDSA Revolution in 1986 saw the re-establishment of a democratic government under President Corazon Aquino.  During this period, the DFA once again pursued development diplomacy, in the active pursuit of opportunities abroad in the vital areas of trade, investment, finance, technology and aid.  The Philippines became one of the founding members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in November 1989, and an active player in regional efforts to establish the ASEAN Free Trade Area.  In the 1990s, more diplomatic missions were established in the Middle East to improve existing ties with Arab states and to respond to the growing needs of Overseas Filipino workers in the region.

In 1991, heeding the growing nationalist sentiments among the public, the Philippine Senate voted against the extension of the RP-U.S. Military Bases Agreement, thus putting to a close the decades-old presence of the U.S. military at Subic Bay and Clark Field.  Also in 1991, President Aquino signed into law the new Foreign Service Act of 1991 (R.A. 7157), which reorganized the Department along geographic lines and strengthened the Foreign Service.  It instituted a Career Minister Eligibility Examination as a requirement for promotion of senior FSOs to the rank of Career Ministers, thereby ensuring the professional selection of those who would eventually rise to the level of career ambassadors.The Ramos administration from July 1992 to June 1998 defined the four core priorities of Philippine foreign policy namely: the enhancement of national security, promotion of economic diplomacy, protection of overseas Filipino workers and Filipino nationals abroad, and the projection of a good image of the country abroad.

President Ramos boosted foreign trade, investments and official development assistance to the Philippines through his state visits and summit meetings.  In 1996, the Philippines successfully hosted the APEC Leaders' Summit, which resulted in the Manila Action Plan for APEC 1996 (MAPA '96).The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (R.A. 8042) provided a framework for stronger protection of Filipino workers abroad, with the creation of the Legal Assistance Fund and the Assistance-to-Nationals Fund, and the designation in the DFA of a Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers' Affairs, with the rank of Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs.

Among the other significant events in foreign affairs during the Ramos years were: the adoption by ASEAN in 1992, upon Philippine initiative, of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea aimed at confidence-building and avoidance of conflict among claimant states; the establishment of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines (BIMP)-East Asia Growth area in 1994; the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994 as the only multilateral security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region conducted at the government level; and the signing between the Philippine Government and the Moro National Liberation Front on 2 September 1996 of the Mindanao Peace Agreement.

The DFA, during the Estrada administration, hosted the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 1998, and undertook confidence-building measures with China over the South China Sea issue.  President Estrada strengthened bilateral ties with neighboring countries with visits to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.  The DFA played a major role in the forging of a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, which was concurred in the Senate in 1999.  The country also sent a delegation of 108 observers to the Indonesian parliamentary elections, and engaged in cooperative activities in the areas of security, defense, combating transnational crimes, economy, culture, and the protection of OFWs and Filipinos abroad.

Source: DFA