The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR RENEWS CALLS FOR FAIR EMPLOYMENT AND SAFE MIGRATION UNDER THE EPS

Photos: Ambassador De Vega delivering the Philippine country statement; Ambassador De Vega joins Busan Mayor Park Heong Joon, HRDK Acting President Young Joong Kim, and other Ambassadors at the opening ceremony; Filipino EPS Worker Jhumer Tablatin is awarded a prize for model EPS worker; Ambassador de Vega joins other officials for the unveiling of ne HRDK EPS slogan; and Ambassador de Vega with Labor Attache Maria Celeste Valderrama and Ms. Lindsey Kim of the MWO-Seoul.

14 August 2023, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega took part in the 2023 Employment Permit System (EPS) Conference held from 09-11 August 2023 in Busan, South Korea.

The meeting, organized by Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) and the Human Resource Development Service Korea (HRDK) aims to facilitate further cooperation and knowledge sharing among the EPS sending countries. ROK Minister Lee Jung Sik conveyed the policy directions of the MOEL and pledged to take measures to protect the human rights and continuously improve workplace safety for migrant workers.

In her country statement, Ambassador de Vega called for fair employment and safe migration for all in line with the international commitments of the Philippines and the UN Global Compact for Migration. She advanced specific policy recommendations that would address issues being faced by EPS workers concerning workplace transfers, safety and health, repatriation, contract cancellation, and job roster selection system. “As we prepare for the 75th year of Philippines - Korea diplomatic relations and the 20th year of the Philippine-Korea MOU on EPS next year, the Philippines takes cognizance of the important role that the EPS has played in fostering cooperation on human resource development, productivity, and migrant workers protection between our countries. We remain highly committed to the improvement of the EPS for greater protection and welfare of our workers”, the Ambassador said.

The conference featured presentation by experts regarding the plans to reorganize the EPS and its future directions in the context of its achievements in the past twenty years, the demographic challenges in Korea, international labor commitments, and pressing issues faced by the industry. Among others, the EPS plans to expand the number of industries where E9 workers will be employed, and increase support for the development of workers’ language and vocational skills in order to warrant longer term employment.

Ambassador de Vega joined the HRDK Acting President, Young Joong Kim onstage during the launching of the HRDK’s new slogan, “Incorruptible EPS”, as well as the awarding of the EPS Excellence Awards wherein Mr. Jhumar Tablatin, Filipino EPS worker, was named the 2nd prize winner for the Worker category.

Labor Attaches of the EPS sending countries, including Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama of the Philippine Migrant Workers Office were also present during the EPS Conference.

The Philippines was the first government to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on EPS with Korea, and also sent the very first group of EPS workers to Korea in 2004. END

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF CITY-TO-CITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DURING CALL OF CITYNET OFFICIALS

Top: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega with CityNet CEO Kim JeongKee. CityNet assists local government units from the Philippines during their benchmarking activities in the Republic of Korea and connects them to ROK cities for exchange of best practices in sustainable urban development. Bottom: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and CityNet CEO Kim with Philippine Embassy and City Net officials.

7 August 2023, Seoul - Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega highlighted the importance of city-to-city partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals and mitigating the impact of climate change during the courtesy call of CityNet CEO Kim JeongKee and CityNet Officials at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 7 August 2023. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen partnerships between cities in the Republic of the Philippines and CityNet in Korea.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega stated that international partnerships continue to be effective in helping cities address urban challenges and further sustainable urban development in the Asia-Pacific region. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise underscored the importance of fortifying and strengthening city partnerships, and reinforcing existing CityNet partnerships in the Philippines.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega recommended that the organization look into potential partnerships in the Visayas and Mindanao for future partner cities to strengthen its linkages in the Philippines. The CityNet Secretariat conveyed the organization’s interest in partnering with more cities and municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao, especially those that remain vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, emphasizing that CityNet is keenly interested in working with Philippine cities to combat climate change and promote sustainable urban development.

The organization emphasized its dedication to supporting member cities in addressing urban challenges given their experience in connecting cities for knowledge exchange and capacity-building projects across the Asia-Pacific region. With the support and engagement of its members, CityNet creates programs and platforms that help increase connections and build capacity across member cities in the Asia-Pacific.

CityNet CEO Kim Jeongkee was joined by CityNet Deputy Director Jaime Paulo Morra, a Filipino, and Ms. Lee Yejin. The Ambassador was also joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario.

CityNet supports numerous Philippine cities, including Makati, Iloilo, and Muntinlupa which are members of the organization’s 2023-2026 Executive Committee. CityNet continuously partners with PH cities for the exchange of best practices in urban sustainability, sustainable tourism, and other capacity-building projects. END

PH EMBASSY WITH PH E-9 CHESS CLUB HOLD 2ND BLITZ CHESS TOURNAMENT

PR MTD 108 2023

30 July 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy together with the E-9 Chess Club held the 2nd Blitz Chess Tournament at the Sentro Rizal Hall, Philippine Embassy, on 30 July 2023. Attended by at least 25 chess players and licensed arbiters, the event showcased the skills of Overseas Filipino Workers in the game of chess. EPS Renato Samano, Jr., took home the championship, followed by Danny Lasam, Recca Joel Carcueva, Kim Hyo Jin and Emerson Mendoza.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said that activities such as the chess tournament provide a much-needed respite for hardworking Overseas Filipinos who have long been away from their loved ones in the Philippines. She also thanked the Philippine E-9 Chess Club, led by its President Mr. Junjun Jabay, for sharing their enthusiasm and dedication to the game to the Filipino community in South Korea.

An awarding ceremony for newly licensed club arbiters Luisito Lorenzo and Raffy Miranda was also held at the conclusion of the event. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH SERVICE AND OVERSEAS VOTER MOBILE REGISTRATION IN HYEHWADONG, SEOUL

PR MTD 107 2023 Hyewha Outreach

31 July 2023, Hyehwadong, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted a consular outreach mission on 31 July 2023 in Hyehwadong, Seoul, with the cooperation of and in partnership with JIL-Korea. Led by Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr., the consular team rendered 44 units of consular and Assistance to Nationals services to members of the Filipino community.

Representatives from Pag-IBIG and OWWA also joined the outreach and rendered a combined 53 services, including renewal of OWWA membership, and opening of Pag-IBIG regular and MP2 accounts. The Embassy also conducted an Overseas Voter Mobile Registration and processed the application of 42 Overseas Filipino Voters.

The Embassy looks forward to working with more Filipino Community organizations as partners in promoting Overseas Voter Registration among the growing Filipino population in Korea, as it intends to conduct outreach services in the areas of Pyeongtaek, Mokpo, Daegu and Yeosu in the coming months. END