GOVPH

Philippine Ambassador-designate Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega visits the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)

SEOUL, 20 September 2021-Philippine Ambassador-designate Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega visited the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) headquarters located at the Seoul National University campus on 17 September 2021. Ambassador-designate De Vega had a productive meeting with Dr. Jerome H. Kim, Director General of the IVI and renowned global expert on the evaluation and development of vaccines.

Joining Director-General Kim were heads of the IVI’s various divisions, including Deputy Director General Dr. Ahn Wartel, Filipina healthcare professional Dr. Zenaida Reynoso Mojares, Chief Medical Officer, Ms. Youngmi Cho, Head of Global Affairs & Communications, Dr. Jae Seung Yang, Senior Research Scientist and Mr. Colin McCann, Global Affairs Manager. Ambassador-designate De Vega was joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario.

Dr. Jerome Kim and his team gave a briefing on provided the overall vision and operations of the IVI, its role in the global response to COVID-19, and its future plans as an international organization. Dr. Reynoso-Mojares also briefed the Ambassador-designate on IVI’s vaccine clinical developments, including COVID-19 vaccine developments, IVI COVID-19 vaccine research and development, and IVI clinical trials and studies in the Philippines.

Ambassador-designate De Vega informed of the IVI of the Philippines’ initiatives to create local vaccine manufacturing capacity. She highlighted the Philippines' Vaccine Self Reliance Project (VSRp) led by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) efforts to establish the Virology Science and Technology Institute in New Clark City.

Ambassador-designate De Vega was also given a tour of IVI laboratory facilities.

The IVI has a long history of working with the Philippines on clinical trials, including vaccine clinical trials for diseases such as typhoid, tuberculosis, cholera, dengue, and other non-COVID-19 respiratory pathogens.

The Philippines has been an IVI State Party since 2004.

END

Philippine Ambassador-designate meets with President Soobong Uh of the Human Resource Development Korea

SEOUL, 19 September 2021 — Philippine Ambassador-designate Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega met with Human Resource Development Korea (HRDK) President Soobong Uh and HRDK Director General of the Foreign Workforce Bureau Park Dong-Jun on 17 September 2021 at the HRDK headquarters in Seoul. Since 2004, the Embassy of the Philippines in Korea has closely worked with the HRDK for the protection and welfare of Filipinos working in the Republic of Korea (ROK) under the Employment Permit System or EPS.

During the meeting, Ambassador-designate De Vega informed the HRDK that the Philippines places great importance on the 17-year EPS relationship between the ROK and the Philippines and appreciated that the ROK continues to value the skill and competency of Filipino workers.

Ambassador-designate De Vega also highlighted that the Philippines, as a staunch advocate of the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of migrants, and as one of the Global Compact for Migration Champion countries from the Asia-Pacific region, appreciates the ROK’s Employment Permit System and its positive impact on the global migration framework. 

Both sides discussed the importance of upskilling, Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), labor issues in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and future collaboration in the Embassy's reintegration preparedness programs for EPS workers. 

The HRDK informed Ambassador-designate De Vega that Filipino workers in the ROK enjoy a good reputation, in fact, one of the highest among Asian countries. Ambassador-designate De Vega was pleased to receive this information and added that Filipino workers are also disciplined and can be expected to follow strictly ROK government rules and regulations.

Both sides had a frank and productive discussion on the way forward for Filipino workers under the EPS who are affected by current COVID-19 entry restrictions. Ambassador-designate De Vega raised the concerns of EPS workers and reiterated the proposed special measures conveyed to the Korean government to hopefully pave the way for the gradual resumption of entry of Filipino EPS workers to Korea. 

Ambassador-designate De Vega also provided President Uh a copy of the letter of DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III to the ROK’s Ministry of Employment and Labor requesting cooperation on the resumption of deployment of Filipino EPS workers, along with the expression of the PH government’s readiness to work with the ROK on the resumption of entry of Filipino EPS workers.  

At the end of the meeting, HRDK President Uh invited Ambassador De Vega to visit the HRDK offices and some factories in Ulsan, the pandemic situation permitting. HRDK President Uh also expressed that he looks forward to visiting the Philippines again, and meeting with members of the PH Labor and Employment cluster once the travel situation permits.

Ambassador De Vega stated that the Embassy intends to continue this close cooperation with the HRDK. Joining the Ambassador-designate at the meeting were Labor Attaché Maria Celeste M. Valderrama and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario. END.

PEAK-Pinoy featuring "Micro Agri-Kabuhayan para sa Balikbayan Program" Official Launching in Korea

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul cordially invites everyone to the 5th Webinar on "Promoting ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND AGRIBUSINESS to Filipinos in Korea (PEAK-Pinoy)" on October 10, 2021 (Sunday) at 2:00PM (KST)

featuring "Micro Agri-Kabuhayan para sa Balikbayan Program" Official Launching in Korea

Register now at: https://form.jotform.com/212560567660053

This public service is brought to you by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through the collaboration of the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO-Seoul), Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC-Seoul), and Philippine Overseas Labor Office - Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO OWWA- Korea), in partnership with Pinoy Investors in Korea (PINK).