GOVPH

PHILIPPINES ADVOCATES FOR SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT 3RD SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY

24 March 2024, Seoul – The Philippines advocated for the safe and responsible use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, at the recently concluded 3^rd Summit for Democracy held from 18 to 20 March 2024.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during his statement delivered at the Virtual Leaders’ Plenary on 20 March 2024, advocated for the participation of the youth in democracy, saying ‘Democracy must remain inclusive and participatory, leaving no one behind. We must encourage the youth - the leaders and voters of tomorrow - to remain engaged and active in our democratic processes.”

The President added, “For this to happen, we need to foster an enabling and welcoming political environment, facilitate access to quality education and accurate information, and provide the youth with leadership and policy-making opportunities.”

Secretary for Information, Communications, and Technology Ivan John E. Uy represented the Philippines at the Summit’s Ministerial Conference held in Seoul, Republic of Korea on 18 March 2024.

“For a democracy to be able to innovate and forge through the future, we must align emerging technologies such as AI with human values, ethics, and principles,” the Minister said during the conference attended by twenty-eight (28) countries, including co-chairs the Republic of Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ecuador. He likewise informed the Summit of the Philippines’ National AI Strategy that seeks to enhance the existing skillset of Filipino talents with AI in order to harness its great potential while keeping in mind the threats posed by those who seek to misuse it and other national priorities to improve our digital infrastructure and literacy.

Secretary Uy likewise underscored the importance of minimizing the disruptive effects of the AI revolution and maximizing its potential in the upcoming 2025 national elections, with the help of international partners. “We have recently awarded a contract to a South Korean company to provide our automated elections system for our upcoming midterm elections in 2025,” the Secretary said.

At the sidelines of the Summit, Secretary Uy also met separately with other Heads of Delegations including H.E. Tiit Riisalo of Estonia, Minister for Information, Communications and Technology, Australian Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts, MP, Vice President Vera Jaurova of the European Union, and senior officials of the Open Government Partnership, of which the Philippines is a founding member.

During these bilateral meetings, Secretary Uy underscored the Philippines’ commitment to digital innovation through the Philippine National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, strengthening the digital infrastructure of the country through connectivity under the Build Better More Program of the Marcos Administration, the development of the Philippines E-Gov Super App, and the Philippine commitment to utilizing modern technology to uphold democracy during the Philippine national elections in 2025. Secretary Uy, as Chairperson of the National Technical Board for the Philippine Elections, also met with the CEO of Miru Systems Inc., the voting machine provider of the 2025 national elections.

As the Philippines is one of the twenty-seven (27) countries that sit on the board of AI Safety, Secretary Uy also looked forward to participating in the AI Safety Summit which will be held in Seoul in 2024.

The DICT Secretary was joined by Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and DICT Director Jude Vincent Manuel Gaudan during these meetings. END

PHILIPPINES JOINS INNOVATIVE EFFORTS FOR HEALTHIER AND GREENER FORESTS

25 March 2024, Seoul – The Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) in partnership with the Korea Forest Service (KFS) on 21 March 2024 commemorated the 2024 International Day of Forests at the National Institute of Forest Service (NIFoS) in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, ROK.

Under the theme “Forests and Innovation – New Solutions for a Better World”, AFoCO and KFS shared Korea’s forest policies and provided updates on technologies and achievements in the international forest cooperation. Participants likewise witnessed demonstrations of advance forest management systems such as forest ICT using digital twin technology and forest fire command stations.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, delivered a message during the event emphasizing the important role of forests in responding to climate change. Being home to more than 20,000 endemic species and one of the megadiverse countries in the world, saving the Philippine forests is critical for the environment. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said that, “Healthy forests should be our collective goal” and thanked the AFoCO, KFS and NIFoS for being the Philippines’ partners in its journey towards healthier forests including past and current joint projects to promote community-based foresting in the Philippines.

The event was attended by H.E. Dr. Nam Sung Hyun, Minister of the Korea Forest Service, Dr. Park Chongho, Executive Director AFoCO, H.E. Kim Hyo-Eun, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors of AFoCO Parties and Observers and potential partner countries, FAO representative, KOICA and other AFoCO partner institutions.

The Philippines is a member party to the AFoCO, a treaty-based intergovernmental organization established in Asia in 2018. Its membership consists of 14 parties and 2 observers cooperating to provide support in the implementation of the organization’s programs and projects. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY HOLDS ONLINE SEMINAR FOR NEW EPS WORKERS

22 March 2024, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) - OWWA, held the first-of-a-series of Post-Arrival Orientation Seminars for Employment Permit System (EPS) Workers for the year on 03 March 2024, Sunday, via an online session.

The activity is part of the Embassy’s year-round labor education for OFWs in Korea that aims to inform and empower them about successful settlement and employment in the country. The post-arrival seminar complements and further reinforces the mandatory workers’ education seminar provided to the Filipino EPS workers before their departure from the Philippines and immediately upon arrival in Korea.

In her opening message, Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega informed the participants about the significance of the information sharing session with the newly arrived EPS workers in the light of the commemoration of the 75^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea this year. “We have many activities lined up for this milestone year starting this March, and in support of our efforts to strengthen our people-to-people ties, we aim to conduct more information sharing sessions that will promote understanding of the rights and obligations of every Filipino living and working in Korea, and promote their access to the programs, benefits and services provided by both the Philippine and Korea governments”, the Ambassador said.

Vice Consul Jilliane Joyce D. Cornista presented the consular program and services being provided by the Embassy’s Consular Section, while Welfare Officer Cornelia DG. Chanco and AS Manolo Barotilla discussed the program and benefits of OWWA membership and the procedures for common OFW transactions with the MWO, respectively. Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama discussed the recent policies on EPS and addressed the frequently asked questions regarding labor standards and insurances that cover EPS workers. Lastly, Director Katherine Corteza of the Itaewon Global Village Center (IGVC) presented important guidance and tips for successful living and working in South Korea, highlighting the culture, laws, regulations, and practices that should be understood and observed especially by the newly arrived OFWs in Korea.

The seminar also featured lessons and insights from experienced EPS workers, Jhomar Malabanan and Jun Owatan. Filipino EPS Workers Association (FEWA), the FilCom partner organization for the seminar, was represented by its President Jhumar Tablatin, who encouraged the new EPS workers to be diligent and open to learning new skills, and to set and focus on their goals in order to succeed.

New EPS workers are invited to join the second series of the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar which will be held during the 2^nd quarter of this year. -END-