Aside from providing passport, visa, and authentication services, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is actively engaged in various initiatives through the DFA Ladies Foundation, Inc. (DFALF).
Established in 1996, the DFALF is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the lives of members of the Philippine Foreign Service and the community. Typically, it is chaired by the Spouse of the DFA Secretary, while the Board of Trustees is comprised of DFA personnel and officers.
Vision, Mission, and Objectives
According to its official website, the DFALF envisions “to build a more caring, humane, family-oriented, and socially and internationally conscious DFA.”
Meanwhile, the Foundation’s mission is to:
- Develop unity, promote camaraderie, and generate esprit d’ corp among its members;
- Contribute to the physical, intellectual, and social development of the members of the Foundation;
- Be engaged in activities/projects beneficial to DFA personnel;
- Promote solidarity and welfare within the DFA; and
- Strengthen the DFA’s institutional capacity to contribute to the good of the country.
Furthermore, the objectives of the DFALF include:
- Providing scholarships to qualified children of members, particularly those falling within the lower income brackets;
- Promoting livelihood activities designed to improve the quality of life of members;
- Providing donations and other forms of assistance to members who are victims of calamities and natural disasters;
- Undertaking projects geared towards the development, enrichment, and preservation of Filipino arts and culture; and
- Making, executing, and performing contracts of every sort and kind with other institutions, persons, or agencies for facilities, services, or undertakings that shall promote, support, or serve the objectives and aims of the Foundation.
Organizational Structure
As of July 1, 2025, DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro assumed the role of overall Chairperson of the DFALF, as well as the ASEAN Ladies Foundation, Inc. (ALF) and the International Bazaar Foundation, Inc. (IBF). All of these Foundations fall under the Department’s Office of the Secretary – Special Projects Unit (OSEC-SPU).
The DFA is also headed by a Board of Trustees, with nine members. The Board plans and implements the Foundation’s projects every year.
Membership
All female DFA personnel, along with female family members of male DFA personnel, are encouraged to join the DFALF. In addition, DFA retirees may also be given honorary membership.
Upon joining, there’s a membership fee of PHP 500 for applicants based in the Philippines, and PHP 1,000 for applicants who are based outside the country. Membership fees are utilized to fund the Foundation’s operations, projects, and initiatives.
Scholarship Program
The Scholarship Program is the flagship program of the DFALF; it started in 1997. By December 2025, it has supported more than 400 scholars. As of January 2026, the Foundation has a total of 41 active scholars.
The Scholarship Program caters to dependents of DFALF members. Applicants must be a Filipino citizen and a graduate of any recognized Senior High School in the Philippines. Currently, the program covers various courses in Centro Escolar University (Manila, Makati, and Malolos campuses), and Emilio Aguinaldo College (Manila and Cavite campuses).
Contact Information: DFA Ladies Foundation
The DFALF office is located at the DFA Headquarters in Pasay City, with the following contact details:
Address: Double Dragon Tower, 76 DD Meridian Ave, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Emai: dfa_ladiesfoundation@dfa.gov.ph
Website: https://sites.google.com/dfa.gov.ph/dfalf/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dfaladiesfoundation/
Google Map:
Thanks to the DFA Ladies Foundation, Inc., DFA personnel and their families continue to benefit from scholarships, livelihood activities, donation drives, and other initiatives.
Meanwhile, another organization that is affiliated with the DFA is the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains personnel and government officials for foreign service posts. Visit this link to learn more about it.