The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

OFWS IN SOUTH KOREA JOIN OWWA LIVELIHOOD SKILLS TRAININGS AT THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL

PR MTD 128 2023

17 September 2023, Seoul – Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in South Korea participate in the 2^nd season of the 2023 Livelihood Skills Training Program series organized by the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) in Seoul starting in August 2023.

The program aims to inform the OFWs about the livelihood support program and services of OWWA for OFWs, and provide them with the basic investment tips and introductory skills on the various start-up livelihood projects which they can easily undertake to supplement their family incomes or as part of their reintegration plans.

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega welcomed the enthusiasm of OFWs to spend their weekends attending activities initiated by the Embassy and MWO-OWWA such as the information sessions, labor education, and skills trainings. “We are inspired by the big number of registrants and attendees to these activities designed for our OFWs and other Filipinos living in South Korea, and we are committed to support their development, welfare and reintegration plans through relevant initiatives such as these”, the Ambassador said.

For the 4-Sunday Basic Barista class held from August 27, 2023, over fifty (50) OFW participants learned how to prepare the basic coffee drinks, fruit juices, and cool ades usually served in cafes through lectures and actual workshops conducted by Ms. Margielyn Torres, a Filipino migrant in Korea and experienced barista. On the opening day of the training CFO Chairperson, Secretary Romulo V. Arugay graced the event together with Consul General Romulo Victor Israel, Jr.

For the 5-Saturday Basic Baking Skills class held from September 2, 2023, resource speaker Ms. Mary Ann Nunez, an OFW and entrepreneur, taught preparation of popular bakery products such as pandesal, pan de coco, Spanish bread, assorted cookies, pastries and cupcakes to a 2-batchclass of about more than sixty (60) OFWs. After the training, the participants expressed their interest in putting up café and bakeries when they return to the Philippines.

Ms. Nora T. Abarientos, a Filipino marriage migrant in Korea, conducted the Korea Side-Dish (or Banchan) Making on September 17, 2023 to over forty (40) participants. OFWs learned how to prepare popular dishes such as fresh cabbage kimchi, stir-fried anchovies, seasoned spinach, fried pumpkin, and japchae.

According to Welfare Officer Aniceta Deuna, the participants conveyed that the skills trainings held every weekend did not only provide them new skills but promoted productive interactions, mentoring support for orderly reintegration, and positive camaraderie among themselves and their teachers.

For the next sessions, the Bartending classes will start on October 14, while the Basic Videography classes will commence on October 15. All classes are being held for free at the Embassy’s Migrant Workers and other Filipinos Resource Center. For further announcements, please visit the Embassy and MWO-Korea’s FB pages. -END-

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY HOLDS BACK-TO-BACK LABOR EDUCATION SEMINARS FOR EPS WORKERS


mbassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega, Seoul PE, addresses the participants of the “Palit-Visa Seminar” and “Information Session on KIIP” held at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 3 September 2023. Mr. Jang Manik of Visa Korea, and Director Katherine Corteza of the Itaewon Global Village Center were the resource speakers of the back-to-back labor education seminar organized by the Embassy and MWO-Korea.

13 September 2023, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office in Seoul conducted the “Palit-Visa Seminar” back-to-back with the “Information Session on Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP)” on 03 September 2023 at the Sentro Rizal Hall of the Philippine Embassy. The event was attended by around 100 OFWs including more than 100 online participants.

The program provides Filipino workers under Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS) with comprehensive information on how to plan and prepare for obtaining E7 visa (special occupation) from E9 (non-professional), and navigate the procedure for successfully availing of the KIIP, thereby optimizing opportunities for a longer and legal stay in South Korea.

According to Ambassador Theresa Dizon–De Vega, the seminar is one of the most in-demand and well-attended information sessions for EPS workers, and is being conducted for the second time this year. “We are doing this, not only to enable our EPS workers to take full advantage of longer-term and productive employment opportunities in South Korea, but more importantly, to arm them with correct, clear, and authorized knowledge for it is with the right information that you can reap the corresponding benefits”, the Ambassador said. She added that the success of the seminar also rests on the continued partnership of the Embassy with the Filipino community leaders and organizations, and resource persons who actively support its efforts for the development and welfare of OFWs.

Mr. Jang Manik, a government licensed administrative agent and representative of Visa Korea was the resource expert for the “Palit Visa Seminar”. This session was streamed live on FB which garnered over 15,000 views.

Director Katherine Corteza of the Itaewon Global Village Center (IGVC), a long-time partner of the Embassy and MWO in Seoul in its Labor Education series, was the main speaker for the Information Session on the KIIP. The hands-on, step-by-step tutorial enabled each of the participants to register, enroll and/or schedule their participation in the upcoming KIIP, with the assistance of some Filipino community leaders and volunteers.

The Filipino community in Korea is enjoined to join upcoming information and labor education seminars to be announced through the Embassy webpage and FB pages. Interested persons may also view the recorded session on “Palit Visa Seminar” at the FB Page of Migrant Workers Office – Korea. END

SPECIAL ENVOY ON DIGITALIZATION PURSUES PH DIGITAL GOALS WITH GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS COUNTERPARTS IN ROK

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Special Envoy of the President to the Republic of Korea for Digital Transformation Dennis Anthony H. Uy meet with ROK business executives to discuss PH plans on digital transformation.

12 September 2023, Seoul. Special Envoy of the President to the Republic of Korea for Digital Transformation Dennis Anthony Uy was in the Republic of Korea from 1 to 5 September 2023 to facilitate dialogue and investment opportunities on digitalization and related industries with leading information communications technology (ICT) companies in ROK.

To further build on economic opportunities between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, Special Envoy Uy had productive meetings with ROK’s Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok and Presidential Secretary for Science and Technology Choi Won Ho. He likewise met top officials from ROK’s private sector companies such as Samsung, LG CNS, Hyundai and NAVER.

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega led the Philippine Embassy’s Economic Team with Commercial Counselor Jose Ma “Jojie” Dinsay and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario in facilitating the visit of Mr. Dennis Anthony H. Uy, Special Envoy of the President to the Republic of Korea. Mr. Uy is also the CEO and Co-Founder of Converge ICT Solutions Inc.

Special Envoy Uy is committed to working closely with different stakeholders in assisting the Philippine government on the road to genuine digital transformation, as Digital Philippines is one of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s priority agenda for economic renewal and long-term growth. END

PR MTD 126 20232

Top: Special Envoy Dennis Uy, Converge President Grace Uy, with Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, members of the Philippine Embassy and members of the Converge team. Bottom: During his brief visit in the ROK, Special Envoy Dennis Uy met with executives of digital and ICT companies to pursue PH priorities in digitalization.

PHILIPPINE HASS AVOCADO MARKET ACCESS TO KOREA APPROVED

[Left Top photo] Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban and Agriculture Attache Ma. Alilia Maghirang in a meeting with the ROK Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (MAFRA-APQA) officials. [Left Below photo] Newly harvested hass avocado in Mindanao. [Right photo] Agriculture Attache Maghirang during APQA’s onsite hass avocado farm inspection in DOLE facilities.

September 10, 2023 - The Philippines has completed the requirements for the ruling process for entry of Philippine hass avocado to the Republic of Korea following the Official Notification No 2023-33 of the ROK Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) on 08 September 2023.

The Philippines may already export hass avocado for the 2023-24 season as it is now compliant with the mutually agreed requirements in the workplan. Following the inspections conducted in February 2023, Philippine fresh hass avocado exports from the Philippines are expected to be sourced from orchards and packing houses of DOLE Philippines in Davao, Bukidnon, and South Cotabato.

Hass avocado enjoys popularity in the Republic of Korea as a nutritional ingredient for salads and sandwiches. It is available at the leading retail stores and the online market, in fresh and frozen forms.

The Department of Agriculture, through the Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul and in close coordination with DOLE Korea, will support the PH hass avocado promotional activities in ROK to increase consumer awareness and boost its exports.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega acknowledged the efforts of the Department of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, the Bureau of Plant Industry headed by Dir. Glenn Gerald Panganiban and Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul headed by Agriculture Attache Aleli Maghirang for this market access milestone for new agriculture exports to Korea. This undertaking is in support of the priorities of His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., concurrently Secretary of Agriculture, for acceleration of agricultural development in the country.

“On the heels of the recently signed Philippines-Republic of Korea FTA, this is a welcome development for furthering our trade relations with Korea. We are expecting commercial shipment of Philippine hass avocado to Korea to commence soon,” the Ambassador said.

As one of the largest food importers in the world, the Republic of Korea is a lucrative market for Philippine agricultural exports. In 2022, the ROK ranked as the 4th largest destination of Philippine agri-food exports with USD574.27 million total agri-fisheries exports value. Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines recorded a 9% increase in agri-fisheries exports to Korea in 2022, generating USD 307.47 million trade surplus in favor of the Philippines. A majority of Philippines agri- exports to the Republic of Korea are tropical fruits (56%). In terms of market share, the Philippines supplies 75% of fresh bananas, 100% of fresh pineapples and papayas, and 5% of fresh mangoes to the Republic of Korea. The Philippines is also the sole exporter of fresh okra to the ROK, along with exports of high-value seafood products such as abalone, sea cucumber, octopus, blood cockle, eel, and fishes. END