The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINES AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA SIGN MOU TO CREATE SMART CITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES

PR MTD 2022 PH ROK MOU on Smart City Infrastructure 1 1

15 April 2022, Seoul – A Development Cooperation MOU between the Philippines’ Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Republic of Korea’s Land and Housing Corporation (LH) was signed on 15 April 2022 in Songdo, Korea. CDC President Manuel Gaerlan led the CDC Delegation at the signing ceremony which was witnessed by Post’s Economic Officer and Third Secretary Reisha Olavario and Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay. Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega also met with CDC Officials separately to discuss future PH-ROK cooperation projects and investment promotion for the Clark Freeport Zone.

Under the signed agreement with Clark Development Corporation (CDC), the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) will build a smart city in the Clark Freeport Zone. The proposed smart city will be linked to the Clark International Airport and is envisioned to become a logistics hub city with infrastructure for tourism, recreation, and aviation maintenance. It will also use artificial intelligence and big data to process real-time information collected through sensors and allow city operators to make quick choices to resolve problems or analyze data for future plans. During the MOU signing, both sides looked forward to the closer cooperation of LH and CDC. CDC President Manuel Gaerlan looked forward to technology sharing through the MOU, especially the Korea Communications Technology network which will be used by LH Urban Development for the K-Smart City Development.

The CDC heralded the Smart City MOU as a leap forward in the Philippines’ shift to the 4th Industrial Revolution. It is likewise a testament to the Philippines and the Republic of Korea’s shared ideas on prosperity in the Asia Pacific and our increased economic cooperation. END

Photo Credit: Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH)

PR MTD 2022 PH ROK MOU on Smart City Infrastructure 2 1

TOURISM PROMOTION ORGANIZATION FOR ASIA PACIFIC CITIES TO JOIN WTTC GLOBAL SUMMIT IN MANILA

PR MTD 2022 Meeting with TPO SecGen Busan ROK

Amb. Dizon-De Vega with Secretary General Woo Kyoung-Ha and officials of TPO

17 April 2022, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with Secretary General Woo Kyoung-Ha of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities (TPO) in Busan on 15 April 2022 to discuss more tourism promotion engagement between TPO and the Philippines.

TPO is an international organization established in 2022 and functions as an inter-city network to promotion exchanges and development of the tourism industry among major cities in the Asia Pacific region. Starting with an initial membership of 25 cities, it now has 36 cities and 55 non-government entities representing tourism-related sectors supporting its objectives. Ambassador De Vega and Secretary General Woo discussed fostering more active engagement between Philippine cities and the TPO.

The TPO likewise conveyed that some of its officials will be taking part on site at the World Travel and Trade Council (WTTC) Global Summit hosted by the Philippines from 20 to 22 April 2022 in Manila. The theme for this year’s WTTC Summit is “Rediscovering Travel” and will be held just as many countries continue to re-open for travel. The TPO, along with other travel and trade partners were invited by Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to take part in the WTTC Global Summit during her official visit to Korea earlier this month. While in the Philippines, TPO officials will likewise meet with tourism and cultural officials of the City of Manila. END