Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo, the country's top diplomat, vowed to pursue the Philippine interest before the international community as his appointment as the department's chief got the Commission on Appointments' (CA) approval on Wednesday.
In a Twitter post, Manalo, who was designated as DFA secretary by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 1, thanked the CA for the confirmation of his appointment as well as for nominating his colleagues for ambassadorial postings and promotions.
"We pledge to continue serving our country & the Filipino people with integrity & utmost dedication," he said.
Manalo also recently expressed his gratitude to the Congress for approving the department's budget proposal for 2023.
"I thank the members of the House of Representatives...as they approved the DFA's budget, acknowledging the resources required for us to do our work promoting PH interests," he said.
Manalo started his career in the department 40 years ago and was even appointed as undersecretary for Policy twice.
"In this capacity, he was the principal adviser to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in matters involving the country’s relations with the international community," DFA said.
"As Undersecretary for Policy, Secretary Manalo also served as the Philippines’ Senior Official in the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting, which is the working level mechanism for ASEAN policy formulation and priority-setting," DFA added.
The new DFA chief was also described as "an expert in multilateral diplomacy." He served as the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York immediately prior to being appointed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
He was also the Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.
Other notable positions that Manalo served were: acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Belgium, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, Minister Counselor and Deputy Permanent Representative in the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, and First Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC.