The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) implemented the Foundational Course on Counterterrorism (FCC) in partnership with the Global Risk Mitigation Foundation (GRMF) from 14 to 18 December 2021 through a fully online modality via Zoom.  This Course was organized to augment and enhance the existing counterterrorism capacity of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

A total of 57 participants successfully completed the 35-hour online Course, albeit time differences for participants.  Foreign Service Officers (FSO) Cadets (Batch XXVIII) appreciated the learning and insights gained from exchanges and group discussions with senior officers and staff from the DFA Home Offices, Consular Offices, and Foreign Service Posts.   DFA’s partner agencies with people on the ground doing intelligence and security work, such as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), National Security Council (NSC), and Philippine National Police –  Directorate for Intelligence (PNP-DI) also benefited from the lectures and workshops on violent extremism.

GRMF designed FCC with the DFA in mind as bastions of peace and national security.  The Anti-Terrorism Council – Program Management Center (ATC-PMC) under the Office of the President and the DFA-Office of Civilian Security were also invited. During the Course, their representatives expounded on Philippine counterterrorism efforts and the role of the Philippine Foreign Service Personnel in monitoring terrorist activities and combating violent extremism to protect Philippine national interest.  With the recent movements on global terrorism, the Philippines should be continually vigilant and take necessary actions to prevent and counter wide-scale terrorism in the country.

In his closing remarks, FSI Director General Jose Maria A. Cariño reminded the Course participants: “You can be part of the solution to make this world a better and safer world as front liners and workers for peace and security.”