GOVPH

PH SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL VACCINE INSTITUTE THROUGH VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION OF USD20,000

21 March 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega was honored to announce the Philippine government’s voluntary contribution of USD20,000 to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) fund for 2023. The announcement was made on the occasion of the Inauguration Ceremony of H.E. First Lady Kim Keonhee as the 5^th Honorary President of the Korea Support Committee for IVI on 09 March 2023 at the IVI Seoul headquarters. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise expressed profound congratulations to Madam First Lady Kim and the IVI.

A brief but meaningful commemorative ceremony for the funding contribution was held before the Vaccine Diplomacy Day activity where Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and IVI Director General Jerome H. Kim discussed the voluntary contribution and affirmed cooperation on future projects. The turnover was witnessed by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario from the Philippine Embassy and Ms. YoungMi Choi, Head of IVI’s Global Affairs team.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said that “with this modest funding commitment, the Philippines looks forward to supporting IVI’s recent efforts in infectious disease research and vaccine research and development, helping create a platform for dialogue and future collaboration, and continuing our close relationship with the IVI as a State Party in the years to come.”

In response, IVI Director General Dr. Jerome Kim said that “we are grateful to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines for its continued trust in and support of IVI and our work to research and develop vaccines against infectious diseases that affect the world’s most vulnerable populations. As a founding signatory and State Party of IVI since 2004, the Philippines has been a valuable collaborator in vaccine clinical development projects and disease burden studies to protect and save millions of lives at risk of poverty-associated diseases such as typhoid fever, dengue, cholera, and tuberculosis.”

The Philippines is State-party to the International Vaccine Institute, a non-profit international organization established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health. END

PHILIPPINES HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRY 4.0 TO ADVANCE ENTERPRISES AND TECHNOLOGIES

21 March 2023, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega addressed participants at the opening of the fourth session of the 3^rd Global Business Forum organized by The Korea Herald on 15 March 2023. In attendance at the forum were Mr. Jung Won-Ju, Chairman of the Herald Corporation, Mr. Choi Jin-Young CEO, The Korea Herald, Mr. An Yu-Hua, President of the University of California at Irvine, Mr. Kang Jin-seok, Head of the Digital Media Team, Herald Auction, business representatives and experts.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega highlighted the continuing initiatives of the Philippines and Republic of Korea in promoting the various dimensions of bilateral relations, with economic cooperation taking the forefront. She also mentioned that both countries’ leaders have articulated in their meetings the elevation of bilateral partnership to a strategic level.

The Philippine Ambassador stressed the critical role of digitalization for a more robust economic engagement with the ROK. She cited enterprise digitalization, digitalization in infrastructure, and content/creative industry digitalization as the three main drivers to support our path towards greater industrialization. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said that, “It is important that we embrace Industry 4.0 as it brings unprecedented change that merges our biological, physical, and digital worlds, which challenges us to have innovative approaches towards the growth and development of our economy.”

And that, “Industry 4.0 technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, virtual and augmented reality, IoT, and smart manufacturing can help advance enterprises and industries. These technologies can lead to productivity improvement, energy efficiency, industrial competitiveness, and stronger linkage to supporting industries. As our country enters a post-pandemic future, globally competitive and innovative industries would mean environmental sustainability, inclusive growth, and shared prosperity for Filipinos.”

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also conveyed her warm congratulations to The Korea Herald on the celebration of its 70^th anniversary. END

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR PRESENTS ROK FOREIGN MINISTER WITH BOOK ON ASEAN CENTRALITY

20 March 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega presented ROK Foreign Minister H.E. Park Jin with a copy of the book ASEAN Centrality: An Autoethnographic Account by a Philippine Diplomat authored by Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso at a luncheon with Women Ambassadors hosted by H.E. Susana Vaz Patto, Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic in ROK, on 10 March 2023.

Ambassador De Vega took the opportunity to highlight the importance of ASEAN’s role in Women, Peace and Security, as well as Philippine initiatives in the peace process including in the establishment of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR), initiated by Ambassador. END