GOVPH

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL JOINS THE NATION IN CELEBRATING NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

8 March 2024, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul joins the nation and the rest of the global community in celebrating National Women’s Month (March 2024) and International Women’s Day (8 March). 

In the Philippines, the National Women’s Month Celebration has become a platform to spotlight women’s accomplishments and address ongoing and emerging issues related to women’s empowerment and gender equality. The focus is on concrete activities aligned with national and international agreements, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (1995-2025), the Framework Plan for Women, and the Sustainable Development Goals. International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March, is officially recognized by the United Nations as a day to celebrate women’s contributions to societies globally.

Grounded on the objective of transforming culture toward a more equal and inclusive future, the 2024 NWMC bears the sub-theme, “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas; Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, patutunayan!”

It echoes the target outcomes of Chapter 15 in the Updated Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Plan 2019-2025 towards transforming gender norms and culture. With “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas,” the 2024 sub-theme calls for a Bagong Pilipinas where women are given equitable opportunities and not hindered by gender biases and discriminatory stereotypes. 

During the first flag ceremony of National Women’s Month, Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega emphasized the importance of an inclusive society working together to uplift and empower women. She enjoined members of the Philippine Embassy to continue doing the core work of providing quality services and programs to improve the lives of the Filipino migrant women community in Korea and sought the support of the men in the Philippine Embassy to this cause, as achieving gender equality and empowerment requires a collective approach. 

As this year also marks the celebration of 75 years of Philippines – Korea relations, the Philippine Embassy has prepared various activities recognizing the contributions of Filipino migrant women to Korean society and look forward to the support of the community in making these projects a success!

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, in support of this year’s theme, will continue to create meaningful projects and programs that will showcase and harness the full potential of migrant workers women and girls in actively engaging in and reaping the benefits of inclusive growth and development for the benefit of the global community, including in the Republic of Korea. END

#WeCanBeEquALL 

#PHKR75

PH EMBASSY HOLDS WEBINAR ON DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURE FOR SUCCESSFUL E7-4 VISA HOLDERS

19 February 2024, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO)-OWWA held an information session entitled “E9 to E7 Visa: Employment Documentation for Successful E7-4 Passers” on 19 February 2024 via Zoom.

The activity, which was attended by close to one hundred participants, aimed to guide the new Filipino E7 holders on how to register their contracts, acquire OEC, and enroll as OWWA members. It is a follow-up seminar to the Embassy’s series of information sessions on “Palit-Visa” and “Guide to Registering in Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP)” which were held in the last two years to support the plans and preparation of EPS workers to a higher visa type.

In her opening message, Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega congratulated the participants for having successfully transitioned from E9 or non-professional employment visa to E7-4, or special occupation visa. “Your transition to a higher-level visa is a testament to your skills, performance, diligence and loyalty to your company. I encourage you to continue building your language and technical skills, and keeping abreast with information from reliable sources in order to optimize your stay and employment here”, the Ambassador said. She affirmed the Embassy’s commitment in providing timely and relevant information to the Filipino community in South Korea, and thanked the leadership of the Seosan Migrant Catholic Community (SMCC) and the Ilocanos in South Korea (ISK) for their active partnership with the Embassy on this project.

Labor Attache Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama explained the legal basis for contract verification, highlighting that this is especially important for those who transitioned to E7 visa as they are now considered as directly hired OFWs and no longer covered by government-to-government hiring system. Administrative Staff Jaeomi Leoj Valencia presented in detail the documentary requirement and procedures for contract verification and OEC. On the other hand, Welfare Officer Cornelia DG Chanco discussed the importance of being active OWWA members and the various welfare programs and services for them and their families. An interactive question and answer portion followed after the presentation.

In his closing message, SMCC President Randy Tolentino encouraged the participants to faithfully comply with both the Philippine and Korea regulations regarding the registration of their contracts, especially as they obtain their new visa status in Korea. He thanked the Philippine Embassy, on behalf of the participants, for conducting innovative and very relevant seminars for the benefit of the Filipino community in South Korea.

For further queries on contract verification for E7-4 visa holders, the public may contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (82-2) 3785-3634/5. END

PHILIPPINES PARTNERS WITH SOUTH KOREA FOR PANAY-GUIMARAS-NEGROS ISLAND BRIDGES AND OTHER TRANSFORMATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

26 February 2024, Seoul – The Philippines is strengthening economic cooperation with the Republic of Korea through transformative infrastructure development projects that will massively improve our island nation's physical connectivity. 

Senior officials from the DPWH led by Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain were in the Republic of Korea from 26-29 February 2024 for official meetings with Korean financing institution Korea Export-Import Bank (KEXIM) and Korean construction companies supporting key infrastructure development projects which will turn the infrastructure vision for "Bagong Pilipinas" into reality. 

During the meeting with KEXIM senior officials led by Vice-President Hong Soon-young, Undersecretary Sadain underscored the importance of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea working closely together to support infrastructure development, from roads and bridges to flood control structure through the Korea Export-Import Bank (KEXIM). KEXIM is an official export credit agency in the Republic of Korea that provides financing for several infrastructure flagship projects in the Philippines.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, for her part, emphasized how large-scale infrastructure projects supported by the Republic of Korea help transform not just the Philippine economy as a whole, but also the daily lives of the Filipino people who will benefit the most from physical connectivity. 

Since the Philippines and the Republic of Korea are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2024, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also reaffirmed that both countries are committed to working together to elevate relations and collaborate on economic projects that will inject fresh opportunities for trade and investment, connectivity, and economic growth under the "Build Better More” program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 

KEXIM infrastructure projects in the Philippines include the completed Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project (SPCR) Phase I in Northern Samar; the soon to be completed Panguil Bay Bridge in Northern Mindanao and Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaption Measures (IDRR-CCA) in the low-lying areas of Pampanga in Central Luzon; and the on-going detailed engineering design of Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges in Western Visayas. Aside from capital, KEXIM also provides capacity-building expertise to infrastructure development initiatives in the Philippines. 

Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges

The Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges, a priority project of the Marcos Administration, is supported by the consulting services of specialized construction and engineering company Yooshin, one of the leading engineering firms in the Republic of Korea. 

Yooshin Engineering Corporation in Joint Venture (JV) with Kyong-Ho Engineering & Architects Co., Ltd., Dohwa Engineering Co., Ltd., Soosung Engineering Co., Ltd., and Dasan Consultants Co., Ltd. is presently undertaking the engineering services for the 32.47-kilometer PGN Bridges connecting Panay Island, Guimaras Island and Negros Island. 

During the meeting with Yooshin Engineering Corporation, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega emphasized that the Panguil Bay Bridge and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges contribute to the Philippines’ Build Better More Project as these are “transformative and legacy infrastructure projects that help address Philippines issues on connectivity.” DPWH Usec. Sadain expressed confidence in the partnership of the Philippines with Yooshin on connecting bridges and flood control projects, noting their long portfolio of special bridges, highways, and major expressways both in the Republic of Korea and overseas.

Yooshin has built its name as a firm specializing in transportation facilities such as roads, bridges, tunnels, railways, and ports, having participated in the construction and design of major Korean bridges, as well as infrastructure development projects of countries overseas. 

The project has two (2) components: 13 kilometers Panay-Guimaras or Section A will have a sea-crossing bridge length of 4.97 kilometers; and Guimaras-Negros or Section B with a total length of 19.47 kilometers including a sea-crossing bridge length of 13.11 kilometers. The total cost of the project is PHP 189 billion, and the completion of the detailed engineering design is set by the end of December 2024.

The meetings at KEXIM headquarters and Yooshin Corporation in Seoul were also attended by Undersecretaries Carlos G. Mutuc, Eugenio R. Pipo Jr., Roberto R. Bernardo, Ador G. Canlas, and Eric D. Ayapana; OIC-Undersectary Marichu A. Palafox; Assistant Secretary Joy Manginsay; Project Directors Benjamin A. Bautista, Ramon A. Arriola III, and Director Randy R. Del Rosario. H.E. Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha L. Olavario of the Philippine Embassy assisted the delegation. Senior officials and members of the DPWH also visited landmark bridges in the Republic of Korea to observe construction best practices and facilitate technology transfer. END