The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, INC. (PICE) INKS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH KOREAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (KSCE)

[Top photo] Participants from the DPWH, PICE Korea Chapter, Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) and KSCE pose for a commemorative photo. [Below photo] Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Senior Undersecretary and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. (PICE) National President Emik K. Sadain exchanges MOU with Korean Society of Civil Engineers (KSCE) President Mr. Choong-ki Chung.

28 February 2024, Seoul. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Senior Undersecretary and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. (PICE) National President Emik K. Sadain signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korean Society of Civil Engineers represented by its President Mr. Choong-ki Chung.

Senior Undersecretary Sadain highlighted that the signing of the MOU marks the beginning of the Philippines and Korea’s immense potential for cooperation and advancement in the field of civil engineering. The Undersecretary said, “By formalizing this partnership between KSCE and PICE we are laying a foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship built on shared goals, values, expertise and resources.” Through the tireless effort and commitment of the PICE and KSCE leadership, both organizations can contribute not just to the advancement of the civil engineering profession but also to the fostering of stronger relations between the people of the Philippines and Korea. “The timing of this MOU signing could have been any better as we are celebrating the 75^th Anniversary of diplomatic relations of the PH-ROK this year,” he also added.

KSCE President Chung welcomed the PICE delegation and shared that the signing of the MOU will not only lead to more collaboration between the two organizations but also to greater cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea in both the civil engineering industry and academia. He cited the Philippines increasing demand for infrastructure development and the growing interest of Korean companies to participate in infrastructure projects as further impetus to expand cooperation in many aspects.

The signing ceremony was held on 26 February 2024 at the KSCE Headquarters in Seoul and participated by Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) Chair Jae-Woo Park, KSCE Secretary General Dae-Jin Hwang, and KSCE Vice Chair of International Construction Project Committee Jeong-Hwan Kim. DPWH officials who are in the Republic of Korea for a technology transfer program also attended the meeting and MOU signing namely: Undersecretaries and PICE Past National Presidents Eugenio R. Pipo Jr. and Ador G. Canlas; Undersecretaries Roberto R. Bernardo, Carlos G. Mutuc, and Eric D. Ayapana; OIC-Undersecretary Marichu A. Palafox; Assistant Secretary Joy Manginsay; and Project Director and PICE Convention Committee member Ramon A. Arriola III. The Political and Economic Section of the Philippine Embassy headed by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha L. Olavario were present to witness the event.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul looks forward to stronger people-to-people engagement in the field of civil engineering under the signed MOU and congratulates PICE and KSCE members for all its initiatives to further professionalize the specialized and highly technical field of civil engineering. END

Photos: Members of the PICE and KSCE discuss future programs and plans under the MOU upon its signing. The Philippine delegation also invited KSCE to participate in the 2024 PICE Mid-Year National Convention in Manila, the first of its kind, with the theme “Building Global Partnerships, Bridging Boundaries and Fostering New Technologies Towards a more Resilient and Sustainable Development.”

STUDENT’S ROUNDTABLE DIALOGUE ON NORTH KOREA

PR MTD 26 2024

[Bottom Right Photo] Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega together with the IDH Team Secretariat. [Top Photo] Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario together with the IDH Secretariat and the participants of the Student’s Roundtable Dialogue on North Korea that was held at the Sentro Rizal Conference Room of the Embassy on 20 February 2024.

20 February 2024, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy, in collaboration with the International Democracy Hub (IDH), held a Student’s Roundtable Dialogue on North Korea at the Sentro Rizal Conference Room of the Philippine Embassy on 20 February 2024.

The Roundtable Dialogue aims to raise awareness of the human rights issues in the DPRK. The IDH Team, a student organization co-funded by the ROK Ministry of Unification, prepared five (5) presentations that included an overview and the future of North Korean Human Rights. Two (2) North Korean defectors were likewise invited to share their personal stories with the participants. The stimulating Roundtable Discussion concluded with an engaging Q&A where all attendees participated actively. The Philippine Embassy once again thanks the IDH Team and the attendees to the event. END

PHILIPPINES PUSHES FOR SPACE VALUE CHAIN AND LOCAL SPACE ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY IN MEETING WITH KOREAN AEROSPACE EXECUTIVES

[Above photo] PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. (left) meets with representatives of Perigee Aerospace Inc. [Below photo courtesy of Perigee Aerospace Inc.] Sixth from left, Perigee Aerospace Inc. Founder & CEO Mr. Yoon Shin, PhilSA DG Marciano Jr., fifth from left and Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, fourth from left.

27 February 2024, Daejeon - The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) led by Director General Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. conducted a technical visit to the Republic of Korea from 12 to 14 February 2024. Director General Marciano met with Perigee Aerospace Inc. officials at their Rocket Development Complex (RDC) located in Okcheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, ROK. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, as well as members of the Embassy’s economic team, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay also joined the meeting.

Mr. Yoon Shin, Founder & CEO of Perigee Aerospace Inc. discussed areas of cooperation within the scope of the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PhilSA. Perigee Aerospace Inc. also provided a tour of their Okcheon RDC facilities.

This was followed by a visit to the Perigee Aerospace Inc.’s office in Daejeon, ROK where PhilSA DG Marciano Jr. gave a presentation on the Philippine Space Agency’s mandate, plans, and space diplomacy projects.

Both sides also discussed future collaboration for the launch and reuse of small space launch vehicles (SLVs) in the Philippines and the development status of Perigee Aerospace’s Blue Whale 1, a two-stage launch vehicle undergoing testing with a launch planned off the coast of Jeju Island. On 14 February 2024, PhilSA Science Research Specialist Sonny Cac Jr. and Commercial Counselor Dinsay traveled to Jeju Island, ROK for a visit to Perigee’s Jeju branch office, followed by an introductory meeting with the Mechanical Engineering Department of Jeju University the Space Mobility Division of Jeju Self-Governing Province.

Discussions were likewise held on cooperation for future test launches, vehicle stage recovery for reuse, and possible Perigee commercial operations within the Philippines.

To spur space talent and development in the Philippines, PhilSA and Perigee discussed possible collaboration in specialized educational programs on space industry development, particularly on the manufacturing and practical use of space launch vehicles.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomed the close collaboration of PhilSA and Perigee. The Ambassador also expressed optimism in stronger Philippines – Republic of Korea cooperation on space research, industry promotion, and development upon the launch of the new Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) sometime in 2024. END

[Top Photo] PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. (left) presents PhilSA's mandate, plans and space diplomacy projects with representatives of Perigee Aerospace Inc. and Nara Space. [Below photo courtesy of Perigee Aerospace Inc.] Sixth from left, Perigee Aerospace Inc. Founder & CEO Mr. Yoon Shin, PhilSA DG Marciano Jr., fourth from right and Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, third from right.

MEMBERS OF THE 22ND QUEZON CITY COUNCIL CONDUCTS BENCHMARKING ACTIVITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA TO LEARN INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS

[Above photo] Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Carlo Sotto (fifth from right) paid a courtesy visit to Goyang City Mayor Lee Dong-hwan (fifth from left) on 20 February 2024. They were joined by WeGO Secretary General Jung Sook Park (third from right), Philippine Embassy officials, Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel Jr. (second from right) and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha L. Olavario (second from left). [Below photo] Mayor Lee and Vice Mayor Sotto discusses future cooperation for Quezon City and Goyang City.

28 February 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul welcomed the delegation from the 22^nd Quezon City Council headed by Hon. Gian Carlo G. Sotto, Vice Mayor of Quezon City on a benchmarking activity in the Republic of Korea from 19 to 23 February 2024. The activity is part of the City Government of Quezon City’s efforts to craft future-forward legislation tied to the automation of various government services such as electronic recordkeeping standards, online public consultation, digital voting authorization guidelines, remote participation protocols, cybersecurity training, digitalization and document management, and public access to digital archives.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, assisted the Quezon City Council delegation during the 3-day benchmarking activity which included meetings with key ROK public officials for city-to-city cooperation and international partnerships. The delegation met with Honorable Lee Dong-Hwan, Mayor of Goyang City to discuss smart city best practices and future city-to-city cooperation, Hon. Hyeonki Kim, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council for productive exchanges on a fully digitalized city council, and the Digital Services Division of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea to gain insights on digital platform policies of the Republic of Korea. The Seoul Metropolitan Government also provided the delegation with a briefing through the Seoul Transport Operation Information Service (TOPIS) monitoring real-time traffic conditions and rapid response to incidents, utilizing a cutting-edge traffic information system which integrates and manages transport information (including flow and unexpected incidents) in Seoul.

In cooperation with the WeGO Secretariat headed by Secretary General Jung Sook Park, the Quezon City Council delegation also attended the WeGO 2024 Activities Kick-Off Event and received briefings on smart city best practices from Goyang City, Seoul Tourism Office, Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) Promotion Center and Incheon Smart City Corporation.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul will continue to support visiting delegations from various local government units (LGU’s) in the Philippines acknowledging their significant role in pursuing inclusive and good governance practices and sustainable development. END

[Above photo] The Quezon City Council delegation attends WeGO’s 2024 Activities Kick-Off Event held at the Seoul Global Center on 20 February 2024. [Below right photo] Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Carlo Sotto during the WeGO 2024 Activities Kick-Off Event. [Below left photo] The Quezon City Council delegation participates in a Learning Session prepared by the WeGO Secretariat on 21 February 2024.

[Above photo] Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Carlo Sotto, members of the Quezon City Council, Philippine Embassy Officers poses for a photo with Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairman Hon. Hyeonki Kim and members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. [Below photo] Members of the Quezon City Council delegation engages in a discussion on the legislative functions of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

[Above photo] The Quezon City Council delegation attends a briefing conducted by the Seoul Transport Operation & Information Service (TOPIS) on 21 February 2024. [Below photo] The Quezon City Council Delegation attends a briefing on Smart City Best Practices at the Goyang Human Resources Education Center on 20 February 2024.