New DFA undersecretary takes oath

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday the appointment of Ambassador Laura del Rosario as the new DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations.

Del Rosario took her oath before President Aquino at Malacañang Palace last Oct. 3.

Del Rosario is currently the director of the Foreign Service Institute, a post she will continue to hold in concurrent capacity.

The DFA said Del Rosario rose from the ranks after passing the Foreign Service Officers examination in 1979. She served as ambassador to Vietnam (2007 to 2009) and India (2003 to 2007), and was earlier assigned to Vienna, Singapore and Washington D.C.

She also served as Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Administration, Undersecretary for Policy (1990 to 1992) and Senior Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, in charge of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and Economic Diplomacy (2000 to 2003).

In her years in the foreign service, she received the Officer’s Award Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna, Adjunct Faculty Award from the Foreign Service Institute of the United States Department of State, the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award and the Indira Gandhi Award for International Relations.