The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

QUEZON CITY MAYOR MA. JOSEFINA BELMONTE LED A LIGA NG MGA BARANGAY DELEGATION ON A BENCHMARKING ON SUSTAINABLE AND ADOPTABLE BEST PRACTICES IN SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Photocard Working Visit of QC Delegation

[Top photo] Ambassador Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (sixth from left) receives the “Key to the City” from Hon. Ma. Josefina Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City (fifth from left). [Below left photo] Mayor Belmonte delivering her remarks on behalf of the Quezon City delegation. [Below right photo] Ambassador Dizon-De Vega welcomes the members of the Quezon City delegation to Seoul.

13 November 2022, SEOUL – A delegation led by Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina Belmonte comprised of Liga Ng Mga Barangay officials and officers of the Quezon City government undertook a Benchmarking mission on sustainable practices in governance in Seoul, Korea from 09-13 November 2022. The delegation was welcomed by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega.

Emphasizing that innovation starts from the smallest units of local government in her address to the delegation, Ambassador Dizon – De Vega underscored the significant role of the local government units as the vanguard for development and innovation. She also assured the delegation of Embassy’s continued support to local governments as they embark on benchmarking activities that will aid in governance and in ensuring efficient delivery of services to the people.

Mayor Belmonte conveyed the Quezon City government’s appreciation to the Embassy and presented the Ambassador with a symbolic “Key to the City”. Mayor Belmonte also expressed appreciation to the Philippine Embassy team for making the benchmarking mission possible, as the Quezon City government is keen on learning Seoul’s best practices on environmental sustainability which may be adopted and applied in Quezon City.

During the mission, the QC delegation had a briefing on best practices with City Net which is the largest association of urban stakeholders committed to sustainable development in the Asia Pacific Region. They also learned about Seoul’s urban development projects especially environmentally-friendly rehabilitation and restoration projects of now famous tourist attractions and recreation spaces. The delegation also engaged in a discussion on various approaches to recycling as well as upcycling at community-based recycling centers in Mapo and Gangnam and the Seoul Upcycling Plaza. The participants will be working on Re-Entry Action Plans (REAP) based on the lessons from the mission. END

PHILIPPINES ADVOCATES FOR COOPERATION ON CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND GREEN GROWTH AT GGGI 11th ASSEMBLY AND 15TH COUNCIL JOINT SESSION

GGGI

Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo delivers virtually the country statement at the GGGI 11^th Assembly and 15^th Council Joint Session; Amb. Theresa Dizon-De Vega headed the Philippine Delegation to the meetings in Seoul

17 November 2022, SEOUL – The Philippines advocated cooperation on climate resiliency and green growth at the 11th Assembly and 15th Council Joint Session of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) held on 24-27 October 2022, Seoul, ROK. The meeting was chaired by GGGI President and Chairman Ban Ki Moon.

Through a country statement delivered via video message by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, the Philippines acknowledged the GGGI’s contribution to the Philippines’ climate resiliency and inclusive green growth initiatives.

Climate-smart and disaster-ready are priorities for the Philippine government. Secretary Manalo also welcomed the GGGI’s Country Planning Framework 2021- 2025 for the Philippines which focuses on climate action, climate resilient agriculture and green industries, which are in alignment with the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of 75% greenhouse gas emissions reduction and avoidance by 2030. He underscored that continued support of international partners like the GGGI in terms of capacity-building, funding, and technology transfer is integral to achieving the Philippines’ sustainable development goals, green growth targets, and bold climate commitments.

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega who represented the Philippines during the council meeting at the GGGI headquarters in Seoul emphasized the importance of convening technical working groups to improve collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders at the working level and ensure efficiency in council discussions.

The key outcomes of the Joint Session this year include approval of the GGGI Work Program and Budget 2023-2024 and establishment of the Carbon Transaction Platform. The Assembly and the Council likewise provided guidance on reviewing GGGI’s definition of Contributing Member, and provided feedback on the ongoing core replenishment drive, GGGI’s Pacific Regional Strategy, update on Membership, Accession and Country Programming, and update from the GGGI Staff Council. END

PHILIPPINES-KOREA INVESTMENT FORUM HELD IN SEOUL

Photocard PH ROK Investment Forum Oct2022

DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, Ambassador Thresa Dizon-De Vega, Aboitiz InfraCapital CEO Cosette Canilao, PEZA Acting DDF Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal, DTI, BOI, DOE, Aboitiz officials at the Investment Mission

16 November 2022, SEOUL – A Philippines-Korea Investment Forum with close to one hundred participating Korean companies was held on 19 October 2022 at the Hotel President, Seoul, Republic of Korea. The forum was organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Seoul led by Commercial Counselor Jose Ma “Jojie” Dinsay in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry led by Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) represented by Deputy Director General for Finance and Administration OIC, Mr. Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal and Aboitiz InfraCapital. The Department of Energy was likewise represented by Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomed the forum participants and invited them to learn more about the investment opportunities in the Philippines. Undersecretary Rodolfo, Mr. Guiapal, BOI Executive Director Corazon Halili-Dichosa, Aboitiz Lima Land President Rafael de Mesa, and Aboitiz InfraCapital CEO Cosette Canilao presented various aspects of the business and investment climate in the Philippines.

Currently, there are about 251 South Korean locators in the Philippines’ economic zones engaged in activities such as the manufacturing of radio, television and communication equipment and apparatus; fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment; rubber and plastic products; real estate activities; and wearing apparel. The investment forum aims to generate awareness among the participating companies and to further establish the Philippines as the preferred investment destination in the region. It also presented the various incentives the Philippine government is offering to foreign investors in economic zones and industrial estates.

Prior to the forum, the Philippine delegation visited the Embassy to discuss their activities in Seoul. END

PH AMBASSADOR ENCOURAGES HIGH-LEVEL INVESTMENTS TO THE PHILIPPINES AT 2022 KEF BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE

PR KEF Business Roundtable with ASEAN Ambassadors

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega joins KEF members and other ASEAN representatives at the Business Roundtable

17 November 2022, SEOUL – Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega participated in the Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) Business Roundtable with ASEAN Ambassadors at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on 17 October 2022. The meeting discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between ROK and ASEAN member states.

KEF Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik highlighted that a number of Korean companies doing business in ASEAN have active investments in high-technology development and service industries.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega briefed the members of the KEF on the 8-point socio-economic agenda of the Marcos administration, reforms in the Philippine government to promote ease of doing business, and expressed the hope to have more Korean businesses and investors who will seek partnerships with the Philippines. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise spoke of the potential for more economic engagement with the conclusion of negotiations for a Philippines Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise conveyed that there are more opportunities for the Philippines to host the different manufacturing companies of Korea, especially sectors where Korea is a major global player and where operations expansion to an ideal investment destination such as the Philippines can make these companies more competitive through international expansion.

KEF is the leading organization representing Korean enterprises. Since its establishment in 1970s up to present, KEF has expanded and continues to play a significant role to promote business investment through reform of regulations on new industries as well as in increasing policy advocacy in business activities, regulatory reform, corporate governance, taxation and other fields for Korean enterprises. END