The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

Department of Agriculture and Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) ink Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperative Partnership for Agricultural Machinery

[In photos] President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., KAMICO Chairman Shin Gil Kim, DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and Agriculture Attaché Ma. Alilia G. Maghirang of PAO-Seoul during the MOU signing ceremony at the Malacañang Palace.

06 June 2023, Manila. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessed the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperative Partnership for Agricultural Machinery between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 as the Philippines gears up for improved farm productivity and food security.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Malacañang, the President highlighted the importance of mechanization to agricultural production, noting it has been the thrust of his government to boost food production particularly rice, the country’s major staple.

“We all recognized very clearly the importance of mechanization for our country because we are trying to move the production, we are trying to make sure that at least the local supply for rice is sufficient and, of course, hopefully, also the other crops,” Marcos said.

“The key to all of this is mechanization and all of the things that we’re trying to do. We have some programs to mechanize. We have…our set program, which is the production, from the tariffs on rice importations and then applied also to mechanization,” he added.

Establishing local machinery production is the first step towards agricultural development, Marcos said, expecting it to result in better yield and lower production cost to make Filipino farmers more competitive.

Among the salient features of the MOU include the establishment in the Philippines of a local agricultural machinery manufacturing cluster including assembly production line, research and development of agricultural machinery technology, workforce training on agricultural machinery technology, and a grant of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to further explore potential projects.

President Marcos welcomes KAMICO's proposal for the establishment of a local agricultural machinery manufacturing cluster in the Philippines to be implemented in three phases. KAMICO announced an initial investment of US$30 million would be made in phase 1 of the project and triple that amount in the second phase.

The project is expected to result in food production self-sufficiency; the Philippines becoming a food-exporting country; increased employment and farmers’ income; establishment of infrastructure on agricultural mechanization and industrialization; and, technology transfer and production of specialized machinery.

Through the coordination of the Philippine Embassy and Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul, KAMICO has been collaborating with DA and the Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) since 2017 for technical cooperation in the development of localized farm machinery in the Philippines.

Among the DA-PHILMECH technical cooperation projects with KAMICO-member companies are adaptability testing of a self-propelled Mechanical Elevating Work Platform for mango, durian, and other fruit production operations, and technology performance verification and adaptation of a mechanized onion production system; and pilot adoption and pre-commercialization of corn milling machine.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea, Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon De Vega lauds the active engagement of the KAMICO in accelerating agriculture mechanization in the Philippines.

Currently, DA implements various agrimechanization project under Korean ODA including Technology advice and solutions from South Korea (TASK), Agricultural Mechanization Design and Prototyping Center project; and Smart Agriculture projects.

Established in 1962 and recognized by the Korean government, KAMICO has more than 650 members and is a major partner in the mechanization of Korea’s agriculture sector.

KAMICO actively works in the global agricultural machinery industry by providing aid to developing countries, dispatching investment research groups to emerging markets overseas, and conducting training for international customers. END

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA DISCUSSES PHILIPPINE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AT KOREA UNIVERSITY

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivered a lecture on Philippine Public Diplomacy to students of the Graduate School of International Studies at Korea University. During her brief visit, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also had a productive meeting with Associate Dean Dr. Cuz Potter and Division Chair of GKS Prof. Lim Sijeong, as well as Filipino students enrolled in the university. She was joined by Public Diplomacy supervising officer Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario during the visit.

09 June 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to Korea, H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivered a special lecture on Public Diplomacy in the Philippines. The lecture was delivered to the students of the Graduate School of International Studies at Korea University. Korea University is one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in South Korea and is home to many international students, including scholars from the Philippines.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega emphasized the importance of effectively communicating foreign policy objectives to the public through strengthened public diplomacy efforts. She added that knowing and listening to one’s audience as well as monitoring trends are critical components of effectively communicating public diplomacy initiatives.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise explained the importance of striking a balance in managing traditional mediums of public diplomacy and optimizing the reach of social media platforms to make foreign policy more accessible to a wider audience.

“We have instituted quite a few dialogue platforms to communicate with varying audiences to help widen messaging and we use our official channels to communicate what we do on a daily basis”, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said.

The Ambassador also shared the Philippines’ policy advocacy, cultural, and exchange diplomacy strategies to interested students studying international relations during the Q&A portion of the lecture.

During her brief visit to the university, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise had a productive exchange with Associate Dean Dr. Cuz Potter and Division Chair of GKS Prof. Lim Sijeong, as well as Filipino students enrolled in the university. END

PHILIPPINES FOSTER GLOBAL MARITIME SECURITY BY JOINING EASTERN ENDEAVOR 2023

The Philippines participated in the Eastern Endeavor Exercises 2023 held in Jeju Island from 31 May to 2 June 2023. Undersecretary Jesus Ricardo Domingo led the Philippine delegation and presented findings and recommendations during the EEE 2023 Tabletop Exercises held last 1 June 2023.

JEJU, 31 MAY 2023 – The Philippines, as an observer, participated in the Eastern Endeavor Exercises 2023 held in Jeju Island from 31 May to 2 June 2023. The Eastern Endeavor 23 is a meaningful exercise planned to demonstrate international cooperation to strengthen interoperability between participating nations, and to foster combined maritime interdiction compatibility to prevent the spread of WMD.

The Exercises, held in conjunction with the high-level meeting of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), featured naval drills, academic and table top exercises, and an expert’s group meeting.

Undersecretary Jesus Ricardo Domingo led the Philippine delegation and presented findings and recommendations during the EEE 2023 Tabletop Exercises held last 1 June 2023 where he affirmed the importance of a whole of government approach in interdiction measures. END

PH AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE AT HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL MEETING

The Philippines, through Undersecretary Jesus Ricardo Domingo, expressed that PSI participating States must continue to work together to strengthen the initiative as a tool in the fight against WMD proliferation. Undersecretary Domingo was joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario and Ms. Anna Gabriella E. Guinto of the Philippines Embassy in Korea during the meeting.

JEJU, 31 MAY 2023 – Philippine Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Jesus Ricardo S. Domingo reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) at the High-Level Political Meeting in commemoration of its 20th anniversary.

In a statement delivered before 68-PSI member states including chairs the Republic of Korea, the United States and Australia, Undersecretary Domingo reaffirmed Philippine commitment to work with partners to curb proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

He further highlighted that it is also important to note the risks being posed by new and emerging technologies, including cyber and in outer space, as well as artificial intelligence, as they have the potential to become new weapons of mass destruction.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for the development of international norms and rules to ensure their responsible and ethical use. Effective governance structures must be developed to temper the power of AI and its potential abuse, and also to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. These emerging technologies must be used for the common good, and in a manner that protects our common humanity. The Philippines continues to support the goals of the PSI to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems,” the Undersecretary said.

The Undersecretary also informed the meeting that the Philippines launched its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the term 2027-2028. Through the candidature, the Philippines hopes to contribute significantly to the work of the Security Council by sharing our experiences in peace-building and peace processes, and in combating the proliferation of WMD through initiatives such as the PSI. The Philippines also endorsed the Joint Statement of the High-Level Political Meeting. END