GOVPH

PHILIPPINES INKS MOU ON PUBLIC PROCUREMENT COOPERATION WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

3 December 2023, Seoul – The Philippines, led by Secretary of Budget and Management Amenah F. Pangandaman, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Public Procurement Cooperation with the Republic of Korea on 1 December 2023 in Seoul. The partnership between the Philippines’ Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Republic of Korea Public Procurement Service (PPS) will allow both nations to exchange ideas and explore innovative strategies that will transform the Philippine procurement landscape and improve bureaucratic efficiency.

During the bilateral meeting, Secretary Amenah Pangandaman emphasized that the DBM is committed to push forward budget and procurement initiatives that will utilize digitalization for efficiency and transparency and recognized the Republic of Korea’s leading role in online procurement, making the country an essential international partner for the Philippine government’s procurement modernization plan. She likewise relayed that the DBM is committed to being a champion of innovative, responsive, and sustainable budget and procurement policies and reforms that will enable the Philippine government to steer the country towards inclusive economic development. The DBM Secretary also shared the Philippine Agenda for Prosperity and a future-proof and sustainable economy.

Procurement Service (PS) Executive Director Atty. Dennis S. Santiago also elaborated on the Philippines’ e-procurement programs that help meet global standards in procurement and the capacity-building requirements it needs to help strengthen the system.

The Philippine delegation also visited the Korea Public Procurement Service headquarters in Daejeon, South Korea on 30 November 2023 to learn more about KONEPS, Korea’s online e-procurement system and its daily operations. In Daejeon, the Secretary met with Director General for Fair Procurement Bureau Ms. Moon Kyung-rae, Director for e-Procurement Planning Mr. Han Shin-woo, Cooperation Officer Jihyoung Shin, and other members of the Public Procurement Service (PPS) for a walk-through of their daily operations to support online procurement, real-time monitoring, and evaluation of procurement processes.

The Republic of Korea was led by PPS Administrator Kim Yoonsang, with Director General Kim Eungkeol, and Deputy Director General Im Heoneu as well as other PPS officials. The Philippine delegation also included DBM Undersecretary Wilford Will L. Wong, PH Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, DBM-PS Director Maria Teresa Semana, and DBM-PS Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong. END

PHL EMBASSY CONDUCTS FIRST POST ARRIVAL ORIENTATION SEMINAR AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR FILIPINO MARRIAGE MIGRANTS IN BUSAN AND SEOUL

26 November 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted its first Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) and Mentorship Program for Filipino Marriage Migrants in Busan and Seoul, South Korea, on 25 and 26 November 2023, respectively.

Conducted in consonance with the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Embassy and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in September 2023, the PAOS is meant to empower and support marriage migrants as they embark on their journey in ROK. The seminar followed an informal and open sharing format that allowed pioneering marriage migrants to become mentors to the newly arrived ones, and share experiences in addressing multicultural family dynamics. Among the issues discussed include challenges in adapting to Korean family culture, language barriers, raising multicultural children, access to services, and immigration-related concerns.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said that marriage migrants comprise at least 20% of the Overseas Filipino population in South Korea today. As multiculturalism continues to spread in South Korea, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said that the Embassy intends to strengthen the linkages among marriage migrants and build a community that could help one another better understand cultural and social norms, as well as legal regulations in South Korea. She also acknowledged the pioneering efforts of earlier Filipino marriage migrants who have tirelessly extended their hand and knowledge to support newcomers to overcome migration barriers effectively.

Serving as mentors are various Filipino community members from the United Fil-Korean Families in Busan represented by Ms. Cherry Baek, United Filipinos in Korea represented by Ms. Mercy Hachero, Seoul Filipino Parents and Children Organization represented by Ms. Venus Avelino, and ROK Presidential Committee on National Cohesion Member and former National Assembly Member Ms. Jazmine Lee. Informational discussions on consular services and rights of dual citizens/marriage migrants on overseas voting were also facilitated by Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr., while Police Officer Do Young Jo of the Busan Police Agency gave a lecture on emergency protocols for victims of domestic violence.

The Embassy intends to roll-out in 2024 the PAOS and Mentorship Program in Gwangju and other parts of South Korea with high concentrations of marriage migrants. For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. END

OFWS IN SOUTH KOREA GRADUATE FROM EMBASSY SKILLS TRAINING FOR REINTEGRATION

21 November 2023, Seoul – 209 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) graduated as part of the 2^nd batch of the 2023 Livelihood Skills Training for Reintegration Program organized by the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) in Seoul. The graduation ceremony was held on 12 November 2023 at the Sentro Rizal Hall of the Embassy.

The Embassy’s on-site reintegration program is in line with the National Reintegration Program and OWWA’s livelihood and entrepreneurship skills development program for OFWs. It aims to help Filipinos working in Korea to effectively plan and prepare for their orderly, safe and productive reintegration.

The OFWs completed the series of skills training courses, which include Basic and Advance Sewing, Basic and Advance Photography, Barista, Basic Bartending, Basic Baking (Bread, Cookies and Cakes), Videography, and Korean Side Dishes Making. They were held regularly every weekend from March to April and August to October 2023 at the Embassy’s Migrant Workers Resource Center.

In her inspirational message, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega encouraged the graduates to seize and maximize every opportunity while working abroad to learn from the innovation, technology, and business trends in the host country as part of their conscious effort to prepare for reintegration. “As OFWs, let us develop an intellectual curiosity; let us keenly observe how products or services around us can be actually transferred or applied in our home country. Let us use these learnings alongside the knowledge gained from the Embassy’s regular entrepreneurship development, skills training, financial literacy and Know-Your-Rights and Obligation seminars”, the Ambassador said. She added that the skills training courses were carefully selected by the MWO-OWWA for being practical, low-capital, and easy to start-up livelihood projects.

Dr. Regis Romero II, a highly-respected Filipino business leader and former Supreme Commander and Member, Council of Elders of the Knights of Rizal graced the event and gave a message to the future OFW-entrepreneurs. Citing the example of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, he also urged the OFWs in Korea to bring home with them new ideas, skills and tools imbued with the passion to help improve the quality of life, general welfare, and economy of the country.

Mr. Arnaldo Hicban and Mr. Michael Angelo Santos, both EPS workers and graduates of the skills training, thanked the Embassy and MWO-OWWA for organizing the reintegration program activities for OFWs in Korea. Both are photography enthusiasts who honed their skills and learned photobooth operations by attending previous Basic and Advance Photography workshops, and the Videography class this October. They are now proud owners of “Saranghae Chinguya Photography and Photobooth” with two branches in Pampanga, Philippines and with their newly gained skills, look forward to expanding their business with videography services.

The Embassy invites the OFWs and Filipino community in Korea to await the opening of the 2024 Livelihood Skills Training series which is expected to commence in the 1^st quarter next year. END