Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)

The secretary of foreign affairs (Filipino: Kalihim ng Ugnayang Panlabas) is the Cabinet of the Philippines member in charge of implementing foreign policy for the government of the Philippines as the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The incumbent secretary is Tess Lazaro, who has served since July 1, 2025.

Duties and powers Under the basis of Commonwealth Act No. 732, Republic Act No. 708, and Republic Act No. 7157, the duties and powers of the Secretary is: "advises and assists the President in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, integrating, and evaluating the total national effort in the field of foreign affairs relations in pursuit of its Constitutional mandate".Department of Foreign Affairs

List of secretaries of foreign affairs Secretary of Foreign Relations (1899) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentApolinario Mabini(1864–1903)January 21,1899May 7,1899Emilio AguinaldoFelipe Buencamino(1848–1929)May 7,1899November 13,1899

Minister of Foreign Affairs (1943–1945) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentClaro M. Recto(1890–1960)October 19,1943March 12,1945Jose P. Laurel

Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1946–1978) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentElpidio Quirino(1890–1956)July 5,1946January 6,1950Manuel RoxasElpidio QuirinoFelino NeriJanuary 6,1950May 11,1950Carlos P. Romulo(1899–1985)May 11,1950January 1952Joaquín Miguel Elizalde(1896–1965)April 18,1952December 30,1953Carlos P. Garcia(1896–1971)December 30,1953August 22,1957Ramon MagsaysayCarlos P. GarciaFelixberto Serrano(1906–1990)August 22,1957December 30,1961Emmanuel Pelaez(1915–2003)December 30,1961July1963Diosdado MacapagalSalvador P. Lopez(1911–1993)July1963May 9,1964Mauro MendezMay 9,1964December 30,1965Narciso Ramos(1900–1986)December 30,1965November 30,1968Ferdinand MarcosCarlos P. Romulo(1899–1985)November 30,1968June 2,1978

Minister of Foreign Affairs (1978–1987) President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 1397 on June 2, 1978, converting all departments into ministries headed by ministers. PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentCarlos P. Romulo(1899–1985)June 2,1978January 14,1984Ferdinand MarcosManuel Collantes(1917–2009)ActingJanuary 14,1984June 30,1984Arturo Tolentino(1910–2004)June 30,1984March 4,1985Pacifico Castro(1932–2001)ActingMarch 4,1985February 25,1986Salvador Laurel(1928–2004)February 25,1986February 2,1987Corazon AquinoManuel Yan(1920–2008)February 2,1987February 11,1987

Secretary of Foreign Affairs (from 1987) President Corazon Aquino issued Administrative Order No. 15 on February 11, 1987, converting all ministries into departments headed by secretaries. PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentManuel Yan(1920–2008)February 11,1987October 15,1987Corazon AquinoRaul Manglapus(1918–1999)October 15,1987June 30,1992Roberto Romulo(1938–2022)June 30,1992April 30,1995Fidel V. RamosDomingo Siazon Jr.(1939–2016)April 30,1995January 20,2001Joseph EstradaTeofisto Guingona Jr.(born 1928)February 9,2001July 15,2002Gloria Macapagal ArroyoGloria Macapagal Arroyo(born 1947)ActingJuly 15,2002July 16,2002Blas Ople(1927–2003)July 16,2002December 14,2003Franklin EbdalinActingDecember 14,2003December 22,2003Delia Albert(born 1942)December 22,2003August 18,2004Alberto Romulo(born 1933)August 18,2004February 23,2011Benigno Aquino IIIAlbert del Rosario(1939–2023)February 23,2011March 7,2016Rene Almendras(born 1960)ActingMarch 8,2016June 30,2016Perfecto Yasay Jr.(1947–2020)InterimJune 30,2016March 9,2017Rodrigo DuterteEnrique Manalo(born 1952)ActingMarch 9,2017May 17,2017Alan Peter Cayetano(born 1970)May 18,2017October 17,2018Teodoro Locsin Jr.(born 1948)October 17,2018June 30,2022Enrique Manalo(born 1952)July 1,2022July 1,2025Bongbong MarcosTess Lazaro(born 1959)July 1,2025Incumbent

Notes

References

External links DFA website