GOVPH

PHL EMBASSY JOINS THE HRDK IN CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF EPS

14 August 2024, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, together with the Migrant Workers Office – OWWA joined the EPS Workers Festival organized by the Human Resource Development Service in Korea (HRDK) to commemorate the 20^th anniversary of Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS) on 11 August 2024 in Kintex, Ilsan.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega joined HRDK President Lee Woo Young in the commemorative event, and met with the hardworking Filipino EPS workers who participated in the festival. 

The Ambassador led the HRDK officials and representatives of other sending countries in a tour of the Philippine booth, which showcased the various programs and services of the Embassy and MWO-OWWA for the EPS workers, and which was visited by hundreds of EPS workers for information, fun games, and special treats. Other festival booths featured HRDK’s on-the-spot trade tests and occupational safety and health quizzes, financial services for foreign workers, and help desks on workers compensation, pension and insurances, while the talent portion provided entertainment.

The video and photo gallery of the 20 years of EPS featured milestones which included, among others, the first Memorandum of Understanding on EPS signed with the Philippines, the first entry of 94 Filipino workers in August 2004, and the resumption of large-scale entry of Filipino workers following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

The event likewise featured successful EPS worker returnees, including Mr. Jason Espana from the Philippines who was an EPS worker from 2013 to 2018. Through his hard work, he was able to build a house for his family and an accommodation rental for tourists. After returning home, he was employed in the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and served as President of the Philippine OFW Association in Baler, Quezon providing reintegration services to his fellow OFWs. Joining Mr. Espana was Ms. Josephine Infante of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which is the Philippine sending entity for EPS. 

Since 2004, the Philippines has deployed over 84,000 Filipino workers to Korea. On the occasion of the 20^th year of EPS, the Embassy joins the HRDK in recognizing the important role of the EPS workers in sustaining the growth of Korea’s small and medium sized manufacturing companies and in the process improving the workers’ lives, through orderly, transparent and fair government-to-government recruitment and employment practices. END 

PH EMBASSY CONDUCTS JOINT PEAK PINOY AND KYRR SEMINAR ON REGULATIONS ON STARTING A BUSINESS

15 August, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul conducted a joint Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (KYRR) and PEAK Pinoy Entrepreneurship Seminar on "Regulations on Starting a Business in the Philippines " on 21 July 2024, via Zoom and Facebook Live. The seminar, attended by at least 50 participants, was part of the Embassy's KYRR Series and organized in collaboration with PEAK PINOY, a program that provides entrepreneurship and reintegration opportunities to Overseas Filipinos in Korea. PEAK PINOY is a collaborative effort of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO) in Seoul, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), and the Migrant Workers Office - Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) in Seoul.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega emphasized that this installment of the KYRR aligns with the Embassy's initiative to empower Filipinos in Korea by equipping them with the knowledge and resources necessary to successfully navigate the complexities of starting and managing a business in the Philippines. She highlighted the importance of understanding the legal and regulatory framework, which is crucial for Filipinos planning to engage in entrepreneurial activities as part of their reintegration strategy.

The seminar’s featured presenter, Atty. Michelle Arias, SGV & Co.’s Tax Principal, provided an exhaustive backgrounder on business regulations in the Philippines. Her presentation covered mandatory permits and licenses, registration requirements, business naming rules, and the procedures for business closures. Participants were given a comprehensive understanding of the legal obligations and steps required to establish a business, helping them to prepare for successful entrepreneurship and reintegration.

During the Q&A session, participants discussed with Atty. Arias points on business naming conventions, the costs associated with permits and licenses, and the timeline for processing these documents, among others.

The program was concluded by Labor Attaché Maya Valderrama, who emphasized the importance of continuous learning for overseas Filipinos, especially for those planning to return to the Philippines and start a business. She encouraged participants to utilize the knowledge gained from the seminar to enhance their entrepreneurial plans and assured them of the Embassy’s ongoing support through future KYRR installments and PEAK PINOY initiatives.

The next installment of the KYRR Seminar Series is scheduled to take place in the third quarter of 2024. END

Filipina Michelle Comendador Receives Recognition from Annual Hana Bank Multicultural Awards

11 August 2024. Seoul. Filipina Michelle Comendador was one of the awardees of the Hana Bank Foundation’s Annual Multicultural Awards held on 17 July 2024 at the Hana Bank Headquarters in Seoul.

Ms. Comendador was one of the Hopeful Family Awardees. She was recognized for persevering, along with her Korean husband, in raising a family of seven multicultural children in a caring and inclusive environment.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega was on hand to award the prize to Ms. Comendador in the presence of her entire family and representatives from Hana Bank and Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF). END