WITH the ongoing significant cabinet reshuffle, as ordered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomes Maria Theresa Lazaro to be their newest leader.

In a daring move, Marcos Jr. sought for the courteous resignation of around 30 cabinet secretaries. Only yesterday was a new foreign affairs secretary appointed to govern for the country. 

However, Lazaro is not just a simple replacement. She has extensive experience in foreign affairs, having served as a negotiator with China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

She will take over as Marcos’ foreign affairs head on July 31, following Enrique Manalo, who would return to his previous role as Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

Who is Lazaro?

The 66-year-old is an experienced diplomat. Lazaro is an official at the DFA, where she serves as Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs. It is ideal, given the Philippines will take over ASEAN chairship in 2026. 

She also secured a landmark agreement with China on an interim arrangement for the Philippine delivery of supplies to Filipino forces at Ayungin Shoal, preventing a recurrence of previous conflicts. 

The agreement, signed in July 2024, includes Ayungin and tries to avoid confrontations following a heated conflict between Philippine Navy and Chinese coast guard forces on June 17, 2024, in the Philippine-occupied territory.

Following the signing of the agreement, subsequent resupply missions to the shoal have been quiet, with Chinese ships keeping a distance.

Lengthy Diplomat Career

As DFA’s Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN, Lazaro is also in charge of negotiating the Code of Conduct in the West Philippine Sea, which attempts to avoid a serious war in the disputed waters. 

Lazaro, who has spent her entire career defining Philippine foreign policy, now leads discussions for ASEAN communiques as the Philippines’ envoy to the bloc’s top official meetings. 

She served as Manila’s ambassador to Paris and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. She served as ambassador to Switzerland, consul general in Sydney, and deputy consul general in New York.

However, she retired from the Foreign Service in 2024, but was reappointed by Marcos. She is the second female career diplomat selected as DFA Secretary, following Delia Domingo Albert in 2003.