PHILIPPINES BATS FOR MORE CULTURAL COLLABORATION AT THE ASEAN-KOREA CENTRE 17th ANNUAL COUNCIL DIRECTOR’S MEETING PHILIPPINES BATS FOR MORE CULTURAL COLLABORATION AT THE ASEAN-KOREA CENTRE 17th ANNUAL COUNCIL DIRECTOR’S MEETING
Seoul, 13 February 2025 - The ASEAN-Korea Center convened its 17th Annual Meeting of the Council of the ASEAN-Korea Center on 13 February 2025 at the Westin Josun Hotel in Seoul. The Council, consisting of high-ranking government officials from the 10 ASEAN Member States and the Republic of Korea (ROK), assessed the outcomes of FY2024 programs and approved the proposed programs and budget for FY2025.
Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, represented the Philippines at the meeting in her capacity as the Council Director. She was joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario.
During the meeting, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega conveyed the Philippines support for AKC projects focused on sustainable innovation on the ESG agenda, its new promotional space for interactive cultural and tourism promotions in Seoul, increased public diplomacy outreach to journalists, human resources management trainings, and more in-depth discussion on ASEAN-ROK relations during the annual Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. “The Philippines is also prepared to augment the AKC’s cultural collection,” the Ambassador said, while congratulating the AKC Cultural Unit for its dedicated work in promoting ASEAN culture and tourism in the Republic of Korea.
Central to the goal of the ASEAN-Korea Centre is to promote and strengthen ASEAN-Korea relations, enhance public understanding of ASEAN and the ROK, and uphold AKC's role as a leading international organization dedicated to promoting ASEAN-Korea cooperation across all sectors--including trade and investment, cultural and tourism, and information and data.
The ASEAN-Korea Center (AKC) also reviewed the significant activities commemorating diplomatic milestones in 2024, including the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea Dialogue Relations and the establishment of the ASEAN-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). These included the International Conference on ASEAN-Korea Partnership 2024, the Unveiling Ceremony of Jeju Olle Trail 8 Route: ASEAN-Korea Olle, the Launching Seminar of the Korean ESG Guidebook, and the ASEAN-Korea Youth Summit.
Members of the Council likewise anticipated the way forward of ASEAN, including the release of the ASEAN Vision 2045. The Council Directors also conveyed their support for AKC’s plans to initiate more projects focusing on building more ASEAN Promotional Spaces in Seoul and expanding its engagement with diverse audiences -- including opinion leaders, journalists, and future generations -- while advancing sustainability efforts including ESG.
A dinner reception followed the meeting, with congratulatory remarks delivered by H.E. Kang Insun, Second Vice Foreign Minister of Korea who reaffirmed The ROK government’s support for furthering ASEAN-ROK relations and the ASEAN-Korea Centre. END
PARAGUAY AMBASSADOR CALLS ON PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO FURTHER PHILIPPINE – PARAGUAY RELATIONS

Seoul, 11 February 2025 - The Ambassador of Paraguay to South Korea, H.E. Miguel Angel Ubaldino Romero Alvarez, paid a courtesy call on the Philippine Ambassador to South Korea, H.E. Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Paraguay and explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture and cultural exchanges. Ambassador Romero oversees Philippine-Paraguay relations, as a non-resident Ambassador-designate of Paraguay to the Philippines.
During the discussions, both envoys emphasized the shared values between the two nations and expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. They also exchanged views on multilateral collaboration, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as agriculture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
Ambassador Dizon-De Vega highlighted the growing engagement between the Philippines and Latin American countries, including Paraguay. The meeting concluded with both ambassadors expressing optimism for future initiatives to further solidify ties between their respective countries. END
DTI PHILIPPINES AND KOREA TRADE NETWORK HOLDS 2ND INVITATIONAL PROGRAM IN SEOUL

07 February 2025, Seoul – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Export Marketing Bureau, and the Korea Trade Network jointly held the 2nd Invitational Program for the Implementation of the FTA Origin Management System (OMS) Project last 13-25 January 2025 in Seoul.
15 participants – representing the DTI, Board of Investments, Bureau of Customs, Tariff Commission, and the Department of Agriculture – participated in the program that served as a platform to discuss best practices in the operationalization and utilization of similar systems in Korea. These government agencies are responsible in servicing export and import processes and requirements in the Philippines.
During the 2-week long program, several components of the Project were discussed, such as, (i) the OMS design and the digitalization of the Product Evaluation Report (PER) management system; (ii) the utilization plan for the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement; and (iii) origin determination, post-verification, and Country of Origin issuance processes.
To equip participants with deeper understanding of FTA utilization and gain insights into Korea’s best practices, visits to Korean government agencies and industrial sites were also organized, such as to the National Information Resources Service, Busan Port Authority, Hyundai Asan Plant, Samsung Innovation Center, Kolmar Korea, and Amorepacific Factory, among others.
The Origin Management System Project aims to promote the use of FTAs in the Philippines while enhancing administrative efficiency for the Philippine government and reducing processing time and costs for Philippine MSME exporters.
Supported by the Korean Government, through the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, the project comprises consulting, system development, and capacity building and activation support across 30 months.
The first component of the project, the Philippine FTAs Information Portal (FIP), was officially launched in December 2024 during the National Exporters’ Week in Manila. The FIP provides a comprehensive set of FTAs and GSP-related resources, which includes export guidelines, utilization data, and a rules of origin simulator, among others.
The second component of the project, the FTA Origin Management System, is expected to be completed within the year. Consultations with and training sessions for Philippine exporters, as well as system pilot tests, are planned for the first half of 2025.
“We thank the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology and the Korea Trade Network for their utmost support that makes this project possible. The completion of this project comes at a very opportune time as we jointly implement the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement. The implementation of this project will not only strengthen Philippine exports but will also benefit national economic development and further promote national innovation in the Philippines. We look forward to working more closely with Korea on synergistic initiatives that benefit both our countries,” says Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Korea.
To know more about Philippine FTAs, visit the portal at https://philippineftas.dti.gov.ph/. END

Philippine Embassy Conducts First Financial Literacy Seminar in 2025
06 February 2025, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul recently held its first Financial Literacy Seminar for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in South Korea for 2025 last 01 February at the Sentro Rizal Hall. This marks an important activity for the Philippine Government’s advocacy toward further empowering the Filipino community with essential financial tools. This event, entitled "Financial Management Entrepreneurship & Investment Seminar," was organized by the Embassy, through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) – South Korea, in partnership with the Diaspora International Christian Ministries (DICM) under the Embassy’s flagship PEAK Pinoy Program.
The seminar drew a strong turnout of over 75 participants. It is the first in a series of financial literacy seminars intended to provide OFWs with guidance on personal finance, investment opportunities, and developing entrepreneurial skills. The initiative aims to support their financial stability and success while aligning with the Philippines’ whole-of-government approach in its Reintegration Program for OFWs.
Two prominent financial experts, Mr. Chinkee Tan (known as the Pambansang Wealth Coach and Chink Positive) and Rev. Dr. Ariel C. Bernardo (a multi-awarded OFW and Huwarang OFW Coach), led the seminar, focusing on topics like "Pinoy Cultural Syndrome in Handling Money" and personal financial management strategies.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega emphasized the importance of financial literacy and entrepreneurship for the Filipino community in South Korea and highlighted that this seminar is part of the Embassy's PEAK Pinoy program, a collaborative effort of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Migrant Workers Office (MWO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO), and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Seoul, to provide entrepreneurship and reintegration options for OFWs in South Korea. She encouraged participants to apply what they learned to manage their finances better and protect themselves from scams or misleading "get rich quick" schemes.
During the Q&A session, attendees engaged with the speakers about their own financial challenges, seeking practical advice on how to improve their financial management and achieve their personal goals.
The program was concluded by MWO Officer-in-Charge Manolo Barotilla with the message that the seminar is an important part of the Embassy's broader effort to equip OFWs with the tools they need to succeed financially and make informed decisions about their futures.
The Philippine Embassy’s commitment to supporting the financial well-being of Filipinos abroad was reinforced by the success of this event, with plans for further initiatives like future training, Know Your Rights and Responsibilities sessions, and seminars under the PEAK Pinoy program. END.
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