2. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs,the Philippine
President serves as the principal architect of Philippine Foreign
Policy.
It is anchored on three (3) pillars:
Preservation and enhancement of National Security
Protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of
overseas Filipinos
Promotion and attainment of economic security.
3. The Executive Branch conducts diplomacy with other nations
and the President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties,
which the Senate ratifies.The President can issue executive
orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and further
existing laws.
4. There are two major contentions regarding the extent of President’s
power in the field of foreign relations:
That the President, as the Chief Executive, has the sole and
unlimited power—that his designation in the Constitution as the
depositary of the Executive Power is, in itself, a source of power.
The President as the Chief Executive is the sole spokesman of the
nation in the field of foreign relations, the Congress as the law-
making body may prescribe the policy to be followed, and the
President in dealing with foreign nations must keep within that
policy.
Executive agreements are similar to treaties except that they do
not require legislative concurrence.
5. AGREEMENT BETWEENTHE GOVERNMENT OFTHE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA ANDTHE GOVERNMENT OFTHE REPUBLIC
OFTHE PHILIPPINES REGARDINGTHETREATMENT OF REPUBLIC
OFTHE PHILIPPINES PERSONNELVISITINGTHE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA
For the purpose of complementing the Agreement Between the
United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines
regarding the treatment of United States Armed Forces visiting
the Philippines (hereinafter referred to as “theVisiting Forces
Agreement”) the two Governments have agreed as follows with
respect to Republic of the Philippines personnel in the United
States:
6. AGREEMENT BETWEENTHE GOVERNMENT OFTHE REPUBLIC OF
THE PHILIPPINES ANDTHE GOVERNMENT OFTHE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA REGARDINGTHETREATMENT OF UNITED STATES
ARMED FORCESVISITINGTHE PHILIPPINES, FEBRUARY 10, 1998
This agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the
parties have notified each other in writing through the diplomatic
channel that they have completed their constitutional
requirements for entry into force.This agreement shall remain in
force until the expiration of 180 days from the date on which
either party gives the other party notice in writing that it desires
to terminate the agreement.
7. The Legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects
Presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war.
This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of
Representatives) and several agencies that provide support
services to Congress.
Congress is responsible for making enabling laws to make
sure the spirit of the constitution is upheld in the country and,
at times, amend or change the constitution itself. In order to
craft laws, the legislative body comes out with two main
documents: bills and resolutions.
8. The Judicial branch holds the power to settle controversies
involving rights that are legally demandable and enforceable.
This branch determines whether or not there has been a grave
abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on
the part and instrumentality of the government.
9. Judicial power rests with the Supreme Court and the lower
courts, as established by law (Art.VIII, sec. 1 of the 1987
Constitution).
Its duty is to settle actual controversies involving rights which
are legally demandable and enforceable (Art.VIII Sec. 1 (2)).
The judiciary enjoys fiscal autonomy. Its appropriation may not
be reduced by the Legislature below the appropriated amount
the previous year (Art.VIII, Sec. 3).
