The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PH EMBASSY LINKS UP WITH FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN BUSAN

Busan Website

BUSAN, 25 November 2017 – Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez led a nine-member team from the Philippine Embassy in conducting a two-day consular outreach mission in Busan, the second largest city in South Korea and the number one trading port where approximately 2,060 registered Filipinos reside.

The consular outreach, the second in Busan this year, was held at the Philippine Honorary Consulate General located in the Gumjeong District in coordination with the Philippine Honorary Consul General, Dr. An Sang-wook and with the assistance of Ms. Ruby Alano, Ms. Erika B. Kang, Pastor Nicolas Cepe, Jr., Ms. Andrea Carla Cepe and Pastor Joel Caranay. 304 Filipinos availed of consular services including passport renewal, report of birth and notarial, as well as services for Pag-IBIG and OEC.

As part of the consular outreach, Ambassador Hernandez led a community forum where various issues affecting overseas Filipinos including consular and labor matters were discussed. Leaders and members of the Filipino community from Busan, Gimhae, Changwon, Masan, Ulsan and Geoje participated, as well as contingency plan area coordinators Mr. Mario Ramirez (Busan), Mr. Michael Sarmiento (Gimhae) and Ms. Hermie Albao (Ulsan). Ambassador Hernandez also reported on matters of interest to the community, such as the ten-year validity of passports beginning 01 January 2018, overseas voting, and updates on the Embassy’s contingency plan in case of an outbreak of armed hostilities between North and South Korea. Area coordinators were each given an Emergency Grab Bag to take back to their respective communities to spread awareness and encourage preparation for contingencies.

Assisting Ambassador Hernandez in the presentations were Consul General Christian de Jesus, Labor Attaché Ma. Luz Talento and Second Secretary Mildred Abordo. Honorary Consul General to Busan, Dr. An Sang-wook, graciously hosted the forum.

Busan Website 2

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PH ENVOY TO ROK AWARDED SEOUL HONORARY CITIZENSHIP

PH ENVOY TO ROK AWARDED HONORARY CITIZENSHIP

Seoul, 30 November 2017 – Philippine Ambassador to ROK Raul S. Hernandez was awarded the 2017 Seoul Honorary Citizenship by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in a ceremony presided by Seoul Mayor Park Won-Soon on 29 November 2017 in Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul. The ceremony was attended by families and friends of the awardees, members of Seoul’s business, arts, and civil communities, as well as representatives from the diplomatic corps. Twelve other awardees from different sectors were conferred with the award.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government confers Seoul Honorary Citizenships in an annual ceremony to recognize foreign nationals who have demonstrated their love and dedication to the city and its residents by contributing to their development and well- being. Foreign honorees should be Seoul residents for at least three consecutive years or cumulative of five years and be recommended by community leaders or heads of Seoul-based organizations.

Since 1958, 707 foreign residents of Seoul from 94 countries have been conferred with honorary citizenships. The new Seoul honorary citizens will be provided with the opportunity to participate in events hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and are permitted free admission to the Seoul Museum of Art, the Seoul Museum of History, the Seoul Grand Park, and other public facilities owned and operated by Seoul city.

Notable awardees of the past include actor Jackie Chan (1999), James Bond actor Roger Moore (2002), former US ambassador to Korea Christopher Hill (2005), Holt Children’s Center Vice President and grandmother to adopted children Susan Cox (2005), humanitarian Sister Maria Vertilde (2011), Moscow State Institute of International Relations rector Anatoly Torkunov (2013), and Princess Astrid of Belgium (2017).

The event was formally opened by Mayor Park, who congratulated and profusely thanked the awardees for their efforts in contributing to the enrichment of the lives of Seoul citizens through their unique efforts, showing their dedication to their adopted city.

PH ENVOY TO ROK AWARDED HONORARY CITIZENSHIP2

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PAALALA PATUNGKOL SA INSURANCE SA SAHOD NG MGA MANGGAGAWA (WORKER’S COMPENSATION INSURANCE o WCI)

Nais po naming ipabatid sa ating mga kababayang Filipino na ang pamahalaan ng Korea ay may programang Insurance sa Sahod ng mga Mangagawa o Worker’s Compensation Insurance (WCI) na naglalaan ng insurance upang masiguro ang kapakanan ng mga manggagawa mula sa aksidenteng humahantong sa pinsala, sakit o pagkamatay na kaugnay sa trabaho. Ang programang ito ay bukas sa lahat ng manggagawang dayuhan dito sa Korea.

Upang matangap ang pakinabang ng insurance, kalakip ng anunsyong ito ang mga alituntunin at gabay patungkol sa Worker’s Compensation Insurance (WCI).

WCI Pic

NOTIFICATION WAIVER PROGRAM FOR UNDOCUMENTED FOREIGNERS

All Filipinos are informed that the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), in consultation with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), has implemented the Notification Waiver Program for Undocumented Foreigners since March 2013. Since March 2013, 585 undocumented foreigners have benefited from this program.

The program aims to allow undocumented foreigners to report crimes without fear of deportation. It also prevents offenses in which a victim’s lack of legal status is exploited.

Under the Notification Waiver Program for Undocumented Foreigners, the police authorities will be exempt from its legal obligation to report undocumented foreigners who have fallen victim to major crimes including bodily injury, intimidation, and fraud.

KNPA has stressed that all foreign nationals, regardless of status, may receive police assistance without prejudice. They will also continue to strongly punish acts of violence, sex crime, and fraud targeting foreigners and spare no efforts to protect human rights of foreigners in South Korea.

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NOTIFICATION WAIVER PROGRAM PARA SA MGA DAYUHANG UNDOCUMENTED

Nais po naming ipabatid sa ating mga kababayang Filipino na muling pinagbibigay alam ng Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), sa kanilang pakikipagtulungan sa Ministry of Justice (MOJ), na patuloy nilang pinapatupad ang Notification Waiver Program para sa mga Dayuhang Undocumented. Simula noong Marso 2013, mahigit na 585 dayuhang may illegal na status na ang natulungan ng nasabing programa.

Ang programang ito ay nakatuon sa mga kaso ng mga illegal na dayuhan sa Seoul na naging biktima ng krimen, ngunit sa pangambang mahuli ng dahil sa kanilang illegal na status ay nag-aalangang mag-report sa kapulisan.

Sa ilalim ng Notification Waiver Program para sa mga Dayuhang Undocumented, ang kapulisan ay hindi pinapahintulutang mag-sumbong laban sa mga illegal na dayuhan na naging biktima ng krimen katulad ng pananakit, pananakot o pandaraya.

Mariing ipinapaalam ng KNPA na ang sinumang foreigner na maging biktima ng isang krimen ay bibigyan ng tulong ng kapulisan kahit ano pa man ang kanilang immigration status dito sa Korea. Patuloy din nilang uusigin ang sino mang nagkasala sa mga dayuhang naririto sa Korea at itaguyod ang karapatang pangtao ng mga ito.

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