FSI Philippines 4.36

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) was formally established under Presidential Decree No. 1060 on 9 December 1976. With the promulgation of Republic Act 7157, or the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991, the mandate of the Institute was revitalized and expanded. Title VIII – Foreign Service Institute, Section 57 of RA 7157 states the functions of the FSI as follows:

“The Institute, through its academic, training, research, information, publication, systems development and other programs, shall serve as the center for the development and professionalization of the career corps of the foreign service of the Department and other government agencies which have offices and employees assigned abroad. It shall maintain a Center of International Relations and Strategic Studies (CIRSS) and shall otherwise function as a research institution on issues and problems with foreign policy implications, global and regional strategies and management of foreign affairs while serving as institutional consultant of the Department on matters related to foreign policies and programs as well as development management, planning, review and evaluation processes in the Department. The Institute shall, inter alia, pursue a training program for those who are leaving for foreign assignments and for those who are recalled and shall hold seminars, including language courses, to prepare such officers and employees for their new assignments.”

The Institute thus designs and conducts training programs appropriate to the needs of personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and those of other government agencies who will be assigned to Philippine foreign service posts. It undertakes independent research on issues relevant to international relations and foreign policy as well as policy studies in aid of foreign policy formulation, management, and evaluation. It also provides institutional support to the DFA with regard to organizational development and management, including but not limited to the planning, review, and assessment of the policies and systems and procedures of the Department.