GOVPH

PH EMBASSY/ DMW /SSS HOLD TOWN HALL MEETINGS ON PHL-ROK SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT

25 August 2023, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul together with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Social Security System (SSS) organized a series of Townhall Meetings on the 2019 Philippines – ROK Social Security Agreement (SSA) with the Filipino Community in South Korea from June to August 2023.

The meetings were aimed to widely disseminate information and consult with the Filipino community and OFWs in Korea about the renegotiated and amended SSA which was signed between the Philippines and Korea on 29 November 2019, and ratified by then President Rodrigo R. Duterte in 2020. The amended SSA provides for equal treatment and continued coverage of Filipino workers in South Korea under the National Pension System (NPS) and their eligibility to receive the lump-sum-benefits on the same terms as Korean nationals. In addition, it extends special benefits to OFWs such as totalization of creditable period for purposes of old-age pension, portability of claims, and mutuality of assistance for SSS and NPS members wherever they are.

According to Philippine Ambassador Theresa De Vega, the town hall meetings were organized in line with the ongoing deliberation at the Philippine Senate for concurrence on the bilateral agreement. “The sessions in both online and offline formats were undertaken to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information about the amended agreement,” the Ambassador said. Thus, in order to reach out to as many OFWs as possible, the Embassy, DMW and SSS organized several townhall meetings in partnership with the Filipino community organizations in Korea, starting in Seoul on 04 June, in Incheon/ Gyeonggido on 09 July, in  Cheonan/ Asan/ Chungcheong-do on 16 July, and in Busan/ Daegu/ Ulsan/ Gimhae/Geoje/Gyeongsangnam-do on 23 July.

The culminating Town Hall  was held at the Philippine Embassy on 13 August 2023 and live-streamed on FB. Officials from the Social Security System were also present which include Social Security Commissioners Anita B. Quitain and Jose C. Julio, SSS Executive Vice President Voltaire Agas, SSS Department Manager Francis Paolo Lazaro, SSS Service Representative Lester Paul Mata, and DMW Assistant Secretary Mario T. Zinampan who joined online.

SSC Commissioner Quitain emphasized the importance of continued social security coverage of OFWs and their families, while EVP Agas highlighted the advantages of the 2019 SSA which was actually renegotiated in response to the clamor from and for the benefit of OFWs in Korea. He emphasized that the amended SSA does not only guarantee continued protection and special lump-sum refund benefits for Filipinos under the NPS, but more importantly, it also extends totalization, portability, and mutual administrative assistance benefits for OFWs.

In his presentation, Mr. Lazaro expounded on each of the SSA provisions, and responded to the frequently asked questions from OFWs to clarify common misunderstanding or misinformation on the agreement. The SSS emphasized that the SSA does not allow any transfer of funds between the SSS and NPS, and that existing procedures on claims will remain. In closing, Asst. Secretary Zinampan urged the Filipino community in South Korea to lend support to the efforts of the government to strengthen and expand the social security protection of OFWs by ushering the entry into force of the PH-ROK bilateral agreement on social security. 

After the discussion on the SSA, SSS representative Mata made a presentation on the membership benefits of OFWs and assisted the OFWs in their online registration and other membership record concerns.  

For more information, the copy of the SSA may be requested from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and the public may also refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the SSA available at  http://www.philembassy-seoul.com/ph-rok-ssa.asp  -END.

Series of Townhall Meetings on the 2019 PH-ROK Social Security Agreement in Seoul, Incheon/ Gyeonggido, Cheonan/ Asan, and Busan/ Daegu/ Ulsan/ Gimhae held from June to August 2023 with PE-Seoul, DMW, SSS, and the Filipino Community and OFWs in Korea

TWO FILIPINO STUDENTS AWARDED THE GLOBAL ELIM FOUNDATION FIRST GLOBAL SCHOLARSHIPS

(PHOTOS - Left: Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega delivers a congratulatory message to the Global Elim Foundation awardees. Right: Dr. Young-hoon Lee, Chairman of the Global Elim Foundation and Amb. Dizon-De Vega with Filipino awardees, Ms. Ivy Marie Ganadillo and Mr. Ariel Jan Sadural).

25 August 2023, Seoul – Two Filipino students currently studying in Korea were recently awarded the First Global Scholarships from the Global Elim Foundation.  Attending the awarding ceremony was Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega who also delivered the congratulatory message to the eighteen successful awardees, coming from sixteen different universities across Korea, and representing ten nationalities. 

Ambassador Dizon – De Vega encouraged the foreign students to continue to do their best in their chosen fields of study. She also thanked Dr. Lee and the Globel Elim Foundation for the generous support for foreign students in Korea.

The Global Elim Foundation opened it applications for the First Global Scholarship grants to foreign students last April 2023, covering the fall semester from September to December 2023. The goal of the Foundation is to promote the success of foreign students, help the students have a positive experience in Korea, and further encourage them to pursue global leadership.

Mr. Sadural is pursuing a Master of Science-Doctor of Philosophy (MS-PhD) degree in Energy Science and Technology at Myongi University in Gyeonggi province and is focusing his studies in promoting multiculturalism and inclusive environments. Mr. Sadural hails from Moncada, Tarlac.

Ms. Ganadillo is pursuing her PhD in International Studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul and traces her roots to Santa Cruz, Marinduque. END

(PHOTOS - Top left: Chairman Lee awards the First Global Scholarship award to Mr. Sadural. Top right: Chairman Lee awards the First Global Scholarship award to Ms. Ganadillo. Below: The eighteen Fist Global Scholarship awardees with Chairman Lee, Amb. Dizon – De Vega and members of the Diplomatic Corps in Seoul).

AMBASSADOR THERESA DIZON-DE VEGA MEETS WITH GOV. NILO P. DEMEREY JR. OF THE PROVINCE OF DINAGAT ISLANDS

(Left) Ambassador Dizon-De Vega poses for a photo with Gov. Nilo P. Demerey Jr. of the Province of Dinagat Islands. (Right) Ambassador Dizon-De Vega was joined by Tourism Director Ma. Corazon Jorda-Apo, PDOT-Korea Administrative Officer Mr.  John Trexy Noveros, Mr. Manny Barotilla of MWO and Board Member Dick Victor B. Carmona, Executive Vice President, Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP)

24 August 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr. of the Province of Dinagat Islands at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 23 August 2023 to exchange inputs on tourism, agriculture, and investment opportunities. Representatives from PDOT-Korea headed by Tourism Director Ma. Corazon Jorda-Apo and from MWO-Korea were present during the meeting. Board Member Dick Victor B. Carmona, Executive Vice President of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP) accompanied Gov. Demerey.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega shared that the ROK remains the Philippines’ top market for visitor arrivals and there are a lot of opportunities for the tourism sector and the Governor may wish to look into further tourism-centered development in the province. Tourism Director Jorda-Apo also provided insights on the interests of Korean visitors.

Governor Demerey said that his province will work closely with the Department of Tourism – CARAGA Region to develop important connectivity routes leading to the Dinagat Islands. He added that Dinagat Islands is home to beautiful surfing sites and a unique 101-hectare bonsai forest. Aside from tourism, Gov. Demerey is also keen on developing the marine or aqua culture sector in the Dinagat Islands. END