The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

INAUGURAL PH-ROK JOINT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MEETING HELD

PR MTD 44 2022 JSTC

In this photo: Assistant Secretary Leah J. Buendia leads the Philippine delegation in the inaugural Philippines – Republic of Korea Joint Science and Technology Committee Meeting. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega also joined the meeting. Forming part of the Philippine delegation are the following officials: Dr. Esperanza O Cayanan, Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, and Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora.

SEOUL, 4 MAY 2022 — The Philippines and the Republic of Korea held the inaugural Joint Science and Technology Consultation Meeting in hybrid format on 28 April 2022.

The inaugural Joint Science and Technology Consultation Meeting was led by Dr. Leah J. Buendia, Philippine Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT Director General of International Cooperation Mr. Kim Seong-gyu.

Both sides noted that the two countries have a great potential for cooperation in science and technology, especially in smart agriculture, climate change, and oceanography. The said topics will also be the initial focus for the expansion of partnership and proposed cooperation for both sides.

In her remarks, Assistant Secretary Buendia conveyed that scientific cooperation between the two countries firmed up early on when the Basic Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation was signed on 07 July 1981. Since then, both sides have seen significant progress in science, technology, and innovation (STI). The signing of the MOU on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the DOST and MSIT in 2018, and the ongoing partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), among others, exhibit the Philippines’ continuing fruitful STI cooperation with the Republic of Korea.   

Ambassador Theresa De Vega also extended her congratulations on the convening of the inaugural PH-ROK JSTC and expressed that the 1st JSTC marks another milestone in our bilateral ties, as both sides seek to deepen PH-ROK relations through science, technology, and innovation. She likewise expressed high hopes for the invaluable partnership that will arise from the Philippines’ excellent science and technology quality talent and the ROK’s technical and digital competitiveness in the sciences.

At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to implement two (2) projects related to climate change and smart agriculture. The projects are expected to commence in September 2022 with DOST and MSIT providing total funding of USD 96,000 (approximately PHP 5M) for three (3) years.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul congratulates the DOST and the MSIT on forging intensified Philippines and Korea Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) relations. The next JSTC shall be conducted in mid-2024 to be hosted by the Philippines.

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EMBASSY CONDUCTS SECOND CONSULAR OUTREACH AND FIELD VOTING IN DAEGU

1PR MTD 43 2022 Daegu Outreach

30 April 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted its second consular outreach and field voting this year from 29 to 30 April 2022 in Daegu. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega joined the Philippine Embassy Mission with Team Leader Consul General Romulo Victor Israel. The Embassy rendered nearly 300 services to members of the Filipino community, including e-passport applications, notarials, legalization, civil registry, and other services.

The Mission likewise held simultaneous field voting for the 2022 Philippine national elections overseas voting period. Meanwhile, representatives from PAG-IBIG, POLO and OWWA, also joined the outreach and rendered a combined 174 services, including renewal of OWWA membership, among others.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with leaders of the Filipino community from Daegu and surrounding areas, including the Daegu Catholic Workers’ Center, Cordillera Migrants Association, Daegu Filipino Community Council and the Nongong Chapter, Kapit-Bisig Organization, Korean Filipino Community in Daegu, Filipino Migrant Workers Association in Gumi, and Waegwan Filipino Community. Among the topics discussed were possible future seminars, conduct of townhall meetings, establishment of marshalls for emergency cases; proposed repatriation insurance for non-OWWA members, and the transition to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega with POLO-Seoul likewise met with Fr. Paul Kim of the Daegu Catholic Migrant Center and Community Leader Ms. Irene Kim on the Center’s programs for migrants in the area.

The Philippine Embassy has now resumed regular consular outreach activities and will announce future schedules accordingly. END

2PR MTD 43 2022 Daegu Outreach

PH AMBASSADOR DELIVERS MESSAGE FOR THE 50TH EARTH DAY COMMEMORATION

PR MTD 42 2022 PH AMB DELIVERS MESSAGE FOR THE GLOBAL ENVI FORUM

Amb. Dizon-De Vega and Hon. Oh Se-Hoon Mayor of Seoul deliver messages at the Forum (photos courtesy of the Global Environment Forum)

25 April 2022, Seoul – Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivered a message of continuing cooperation with the Republic of Korea on responding to the challenges of Climate Change at the Global Environment Forum in Seoul held on 22 April 2022, the 50^th Earth Day Commemoration.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise shared that in April and May high-level delegations from the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission (CCC) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be meeting their Korean and international counterparts as well as taking part in the XV World Forestry Congress hosted by Korea, respectively.

Mayor Oh Se-Hoon of Seoul delivered a Keynote Message while experts on climate and the environment delivered presentations on the most pressing environmental concerns and possible solutions. END