DFA skips foreign meetings after fund lack sparks ‘austerity memo’

The Department of Foreign Affairs has begun skipping and postponing overseas conferences it committed to attend after DFA Secretary Blas Ople issued an "austerity memorandum" due to lack of funds.

Ople himself canceled several scheduled trips abroad to save money, including his attendance at the Nov. 20 to 24 Forum of East Asian and Latin American Conference (FEALAC) in Cuba. Ople asked the Cuban government if the event can be postponed for next year.

He made this announcement yesterday, but said the shortage of funds is a problem common to all government offices.

"We have expressed our profound apologies to them (the Cuban government)," he said. Ople added that his decision to stay home was "necessary," because he has to be present when Congress deliberates on the "crucial" budget for 2004.

He said the austerity measures also prompted the cancellation of some trips by lower-ranking foreign affairs officials for the Philippines, and other commitments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

"We have also cut down our participants in other meetings. As much as possible, the nearest (Philippine) embassy representative will be the one to go there," Ople said.

He said there are some activities abroad that will not see any Philippine participation at all.

Even the Department of Finance (DOF), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are making similar cutbacks, he said.