GOVPH

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL PARTICIPATES IN THE 2020 EPS CONFERENCE

Philippine Embassy in Seoul Charge d’Affaires a.i. Christian L. de Jesus with HRDK President King Dong-Man, the Heads of Embassies of the 16 sending countries, and HRDK officials.

Seoul, 24 June 2020. The Philippine Embassy participated in the 2020 Employment Permit System (EPS) Conference in Tongyeong, South Korea from 17 to 18 June 2020. The EPS Conference is an annual event hosted by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK) for mutual exchange and cooperation between Korea and the sixteen EPS sending countries. Korea’s EPS allows certain employers to legally hire an adequate number of foreign workers.

Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Christian L. de Jesus led the Philippine Embassy delegation and was joined by Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama of POLO Korea, together with Interpreter Hyo Sun Kim. CDA de Jesus remarked that this year’s EPS Conference was timely as countries around the world are facing immense challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. “In recent months, we have seen how the pandemic affected the lives and employment of our people in unprecedented ways, and so we welcome this opportunity to share our thoughts on the pressing concerns of our EPS workers and to collaborate with the HRDK and sending countries in finding strategic solutions,” he said.

The EPS Conference was chaired by HRDK President Kim Dong-Man, and participated in by its senior officers in charge of foreign workers employment. Together with the Heads of the Embassies and Labor Attachés of the sixteen (16) sending countries, the conference generated views and suggestions to address the priority concerns such as the mandatory quarantine regulations upon arrival of EPS workers, the sojourn status of workers who are either unable to leave the sending country or Korea due to lockdown or unavailability of flights, and other employment issues.

In his concluding message, President Kim said that the HRDK will seriously consider and evaluate the recommendations presented by the Embassy Heads. “We will work on these concerns with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Justice. We will also visit you in your respective Embassies to discuss the specific measures that can be jointly implemented for the welfare of workers. As a former advocate on immigrant labor, I can understand the concerns of the EPS workers and I am committed to act on these,” he added.

During the conference, HRDK signed an MOU with the Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. and Gyeongsangnam-do to open opportunities in support of the in-country settlement of EPS workers and future cooperation on industry exposures.

CDA de Jesus highlighted the remarkable leadership of the Republic of Korea not only in ensuring a prompt and systematic response to the global spread of COVID-19, but also in protecting both its nationals and foreign residents in the country from the coronavirus.

“The Philippines affirms its commitment to cooperate with Korea in the continued implementation of the EPS and in jointly addressing priority issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” CDA de Jesus concluded. END

24 June 2020

The HRDK and Delegates to the 2020 EPS Conference in Tongyeong, Korea.

Charge d’Affaires de Jesus delivers the Philippine country statement during the 2020 EPS Conference in Tongyeong, Korea.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL LAUNCHES INAUGURAL KKK 2020 AGRI-BUSINESS WEBINAR FOR FILIPINOS IN KOREA

The KKK 2020 Agribusiness Webinar participants along with DA Undersecretary Rodolfo V. Vicerra, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Christian L. De Jesus, Agriculture Attaché Aleli Maghirang, Labor Attaché Maya Valderrama, Welfare Officer Pops Deuna, Pinoy Investors in Korea President Mimay Robregado, DA-ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Badiola and Mr. Nick Jay Arr E. Engallado, the main resource speaker on Organic Farming and Value Adding Agribusiness Enterprise.

Seoul, 19 June 2020 – The Philippine Embassy launched the inaugural session of the Agri-Business Webinar focusing on Organic Farming and Value-Adding Agribusiness for Filipinos in Korea on June 13 and 14, 2020.

The webinar is part of the Kaalaman, Kabuhayan para sa Kinabukasan (KKK) 2020 Agri-business Reintegration Program spearheaded by the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO) in partnership with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Pinoy Investors in Korea (PINK).

In his welcome message, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Christian L. de Jesus of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul remarked that the pioneering webinar is one of the Philippine Embassy’s commemorative activities for the 122^nd Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

“The Agribusiness webinar is taking place at a time of economic uncertainty for the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” CDA de Jesus said. “Now, more than ever, food security has emerged as a priority not only for the Philippines but also the rest of the world. For the Philippines, the agricultural sector has been a vibrant ray of hope and an important pillar of the economy, generating profits through agricultural exports overseas and providing livelihood opportunities for farming communities,” he added.

The webinar was participated in by more than 60 Filipinos based in Korea and the Philippines for two consecutive days. The first Session focused on organic farming and accreditation while the second session expounded on value-adding for organic products and essential information on starting an agribusiness enterprise. Actual presentations on organic rice farm operations, processing and value-adding were also featured during the webinar.

Mr. Nick Jay Arr E. Engallado, co-owner of Engallado’s Nature Farms and Natural Products was the primary resource speaker of the online course. Engallado’s Nature Farms is a DA-ATI Accredited Learning Site for Organic Farming in Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao.

During the final session of the webinar, Undersecretary Rodolfo V. Vicerra of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Office for Policy and Planning, exhorted the participants to answer the government’s call to invest in the future of the Philippines and boost the agricultural productivity of rural communities back home by becoming agri-entrepreneurs or agri-investors. Quoting Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, he underscored that “no pandemic can bury our dreams and aspirations, no lockdown can slow us down. Let us turn challenges into opportunities to survive and move forward towards a food-secure and resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers and fishers.”

Undersecretary Vicerra also emphasized that under the New Normal, the DA is pushing for Agriculture Production Consolidation and Clustering as key strategies to advance the development of the Philippine agriculture sector and raise the incomes of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk. It is a new development framework that is science-based, inclusive, climate-smart, and resilient.

The Philippine Embassy through PAO Seoul and POLO-OWWA will continue to conduct free webinars under the KKK 2020 Agri-business Reintegration Program. END

 19 June 2020

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY ASSISTS FILIPINOS IN KOREA WITH A SPECIAL FLIGHT TO MANILA

Welfare Officer Aniceta Deuna and Embassy staff briefing the passengers on the arrival and quarantine procedures upon their arrival in NAIA 

Seoul, 07 June 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul today assisted 148 passengers who boarded the special Korean Air flight KE 623 which departed from Incheon International Airport at 6:45pm and safely landed in Manila at around 09:22pm.

The special flight was arranged by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul for Filipino nationals who were stranded in Korea due to intermittent schedule and frequent cancellation of international flights to Manila. The arrangement was made possible with the support of various government agencies in the Philippines such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Manila International Airport Authorities (MIAA), and the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19, in cooperation with Korean Air.

According to Charge d’affaires, a.i. (CDA) Christian L. de Jesus, the Embassy continues to respond to the various needs of Filipino nationals in Korea whose lives and employment are affected by the pandemic in unprecedented ways. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Embassy has assisted 270 stranded Filipinos in Korea, both residents and transiting passengers at Incheon International Airport. The special flight yesterday was initiated by the Embassy following our survey of Filipinos in Korea who were looking for a special passenger flight. Many have already finished their employment contracts but could not go home because their flight bookings have been cancelled for as many as 3 to 6 times,” CDA de Jesus said.

Under the one-country team approach, CDA de Jesus leads the Embassy and its attached agencies in extending coordinated pandemic-related services to Filipinos in Korea, in cooperation with the different Filipino community organizations. To date, the Embassy and POLO OWWA have provided food packages to 470 individuals; hygiene and COVID-19 care kits to 1,770 Filipinos; meal assistance (cash) to 75 OFWs stranded at the Incheon International Airport; and $200.00 DOLE AKAP cash aid each to 425 OFWs in Korea who were displaced from work or were unable to work due to quarantine, with a total pay-out of $85,000.00.

Before boarding the special flight, the stranded Filipinos extended their appreciation for the assistance of the Philippine government. “Maraming salamat po sa tulong ng Embassy at POLO OWWA! Sa wakas, makakauwi na kami,” said Noel Paclibar one of the returning EPS workers.

“With social distancing measures in place, we commemorate the Migrant Workers’ Day today in a different but equally meaningful way, by serving our migrant workers most in need and helping bring them home to their families,” CDA de Jesus said. END

Boarding KE 623 to Manila

“Maraming salamat po sa Philippine Embassy!”