The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINES HIGHLIGHTS ASEAN-REPUBLIC OF KOREA COOPERATION ON MSME DEVELOPMENT AT THE 28TH ASEAN-ROK DIALOGUE

Top photo: Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and Philippine-ASEAN Senior Official Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro leads the discussion on ASEAN-ROK cooperation on the Economic Security Pillar. Middle photo: Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States and ROK participate in the 28th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue. Bottom: Philippine Ambassador to ROK Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (second to the right), DFA Assistant Secretary and ASEAN-Philippines Director-General Daniel R. Espiritu (second to the left), Third Secretary Reisha Olavario (rightmost), and Principal Assistant Prince Nagpala (leftmost) joined Usec Lazaro as part of the Philippine Delegation

SEOUL 08 April 2024 — The Philippines led discussions on ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Economic Cooperation, particularly on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), during the 28^th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue in Seoul. Undersecretary and the Philippines’ ASEAN SOM Leader Maria Theresa P. Lazaro thanked the ROK for its support for MSMEs and start-up development in ASEAN through consistent policy dialogues and capacity-building programs.

“We encourage ROK and ASEAN member states to explore projects that will strengthen our MSMEs and create a supportive environment for these businesses to thrive”, said Undersecretary Lazaro.

On Maritime Cooperation, Undersecretary Lazaro welcomed ROK’s statement opposing destabilizing and coercive actions in the South China Sea. Undersecretary Lazaro likewise expressed Philippine support for the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), particularly its objective to Expand ASEAN-ROK comprehensive security cooperation through setting up bilateral channels of maritime cooperation with AMS and enhancing existing policy dialogue on maritime affairs with the Philippines.

The Undersecretary also emphasized that the situation in the South China Sea must not be viewed mainly as a function of the US-China strategic rivalry. “Subscribing strictly to the prism of this rivalry is, to our minds, simplistic, and does not help in an honest understanding of the situation” inasmuch as “aggressive unilateral actions that are clearly illegal in international law and against the UN Charter, which directly affects some ASEAN Member States, like the Philippines, are sometimes rationalized, denigrated and overlooked under the pretext of this rivalry,” while “legitimate responses of aggrieved parties, which again include some ASEAN Member States, to illegal actions are at times unjustly viewed through the prism of this strategic rivalry,” Undersecretary Lazaro added.

Undersecretary Lazaro expressed concern over the DPRK’s continuing launch of ballistic missiles, especially the third ballistic missile test this year conducted on 02 April 2024. Recognizing that such actions undermine economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region, Undersecretary Lazaro conveyed the Philippines’ support for the call for a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of DPRK.

This year, ASEAN and the ROK celebrate 35 years of Dialogue Relations and are looking forward to elevating relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Full Dialogue Partnership and Strategic Partnership (SP) between ASEAN and ROK were established in 1991 and 2011, respectively.

Philippine Ambassador to ROK Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, DFA Assistant Secretary and ASEAN-Philippines Director-General Daniel R. Espiritu, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and DFA Principal Assistant Prince Nagpala joined Undersecretary Lazaro as members of the Philippine delegation. END

Philippine-ROK Origins Management System Project for the FTA Launched

PR MTD 37 2024

05 April 2024, Seoul. The Philippines and Korea embarked this month on a ground breaking project for an “Origins Management System for the Promotion of FTAs in the Philippines”. The Record of Discussions for the implementation of the project was signed in the Philippines in November 2023 between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the ROK Government through the Korea Institute for the Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and the Korea Trade Network (KTNET), the designated trade automation business service provider, partnering with DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB).

The initial phase of the program was launched this week in Pangyo Smart City, Korea with the Invitational Training Implementation Plan. The week-long program provided the Philippines and ROK sides with an opportunity to exchange views and align targets for the project implementation. Philippine delegates from DTI-EMB, DTI-BITR, Board of Investments, Bureau of Customs, Export Development Council, and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. likewise undertook site visits and meetings with KIAT, KTNET, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the ROK National Paperless Trade Infrastructure Operation, and ROK FTA Support Center. There were likewise sessions on the Korea Customs Service and Issuance of Certificate of Origin, FTA-based exports by exporting companies, and introduction to ROK’s FTA platform and usage activation.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega stated that the “mainstreaming of digital platforms will contribute to enhancing FTA availment among Filipino exporters” and reiterated support for the project. For his part, KTNET CEO and President Cha Young-Hwan shared that ROK is eager to partner with the Philippines and share its best practices on leveraging the available technology for more seamless export transactions. Likewise present was the launch were Philippine Commercial Counsellor Jose Ma. Dinsay and DTI-EMB Director Bianca Sykimte.

The Philippines-Korea FTA was signed in September 2023 ahead of the commemoration of 75 years of Philippines-Korea relations in 2024. END

PH EMBASSY CONDUCTS KYRR SEMINAR ON IMMIGRATION AND DUAL CITIZENSHIP LAWS FOR MARRIAGE MIGRANTS AND CHILDREN

PR MTD 35 2024

24 March 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted the first installment of the Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (KYRR) Seminar Series this year on the topic of immigration and dual citizenship for marriage migrants and their children on 24 March 2024 via Zoom and Facebook live. The activity is likewise part of the events in commemoration of National Women’s Month.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega said that this installment of the KYRR aligns with the Embassy's Women’s Month initiatives. She emphasized that the webinar is integral to the Embassy's commitment to provide marriage migrants with the essential information and expert advice needed to navigate critical life decisions during their residency in South Korea.

Attended by at least 50 participants via Zoom and viewed online on Facebook more than 300 times by various users, the webinar aims to address the unique challenges faced by marriage migrants and their children in navigating the complexities of migration related laws in Korea. Immigration and dual citizenship experts Atty. Jang Man-Ik, Atty. Lee Dokyung of the Korean Bar Association, and Atty. Purificacion Bartolome-Bernabe of the International Pro Bono Alliance Immigration and dual citizenship laws of the Philippines and Korea, highlighting their respective effects on residency, right to stay, custody, property ownership, right to vote and education opportunities in the Philippines and Korea.

The program was concluded by Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr., who invited participants and viewers to upcoming projects of the Embassy aimed towards providing support to marriage migrants and multicultural families, including the Post Arrival Orientation Seminar for newly arrived marriage migrants in South Korea to be held in Gwangju on 6 April 2024; and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas’ Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLead) program, a platform to enable Filipino youth overseas to rediscover their Filipino roots and heritage through a series of lectures, guided tours to scenic and historical landmarks, and interaction with the Filipino community. The next installment of KYRR shall take place in the second quarter of 2024. END

PHILIPPINES ADVOCATES FOR SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT 3RD SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY

Philippine Secretary for Information, Communications and Technology Ivan John E. Uy represented the Philippines at the 3^rd Summit for Democracy Ministerial Conference in Seoul, Republic of Korea on 18 March 2024.

24 March 2024, Seoul – The Philippines advocated for the safe and responsible use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, at the recently concluded 3^rd Summit for Democracy held from 18 to 20 March 2024.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during his statement delivered at the Virtual Leaders’ Plenary on 20 March 2024, advocated for the participation of the youth in democracy, saying ‘Democracy must remain inclusive and participatory, leaving no one behind. We must encourage the youth - the leaders and voters of tomorrow - to remain engaged and active in our democratic processes.”

The President added, “For this to happen, we need to foster an enabling and welcoming political environment, facilitate access to quality education and accurate information, and provide the youth with leadership and policy-making opportunities.”

Secretary for Information, Communications, and Technology Ivan John E. Uy represented the Philippines at the Summit’s Ministerial Conference held in Seoul, Republic of Korea on 18 March 2024.

“For a democracy to be able to innovate and forge through the future, we must align emerging technologies such as AI with human values, ethics, and principles,” the Minister said during the conference attended by twenty-eight (28) countries, including co-chairs the Republic of Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ecuador. He likewise informed the Summit of the Philippines’ National AI Strategy that seeks to enhance the existing skillset of Filipino talents with AI in order to harness its great potential while keeping in mind the threats posed by those who seek to misuse it and other national priorities to improve our digital infrastructure and literacy.

Secretary Uy likewise underscored the importance of minimizing the disruptive effects of the AI revolution and maximizing its potential in the upcoming 2025 national elections, with the help of international partners. “We have recently awarded a contract to a South Korean company to provide our automated elections system for our upcoming midterm elections in 2025,” the Secretary said.

At the sidelines of the Summit, Secretary Uy also met separately with other Heads of Delegations including H.E. Tiit Riisalo of Estonia, Minister for Information, Communications and Technology, Australian Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts, MP, Vice President Vera Jaurova of the European Union, and senior officials of the Open Government Partnership, of which the Philippines is a founding member.

During these bilateral meetings, Secretary Uy underscored the Philippines’ commitment to digital innovation through the Philippine National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, strengthening the digital infrastructure of the country through connectivity under the Build Better More Program of the Marcos Administration, the development of the Philippines E-Gov Super App, and the Philippine commitment to utilizing modern technology to uphold democracy during the Philippine national elections in 2025. Secretary Uy, as Chairperson of the National Technical Board for the Philippine Elections, also met with the CEO of Miru Systems Inc., the voting machine provider of the 2025 national elections.

As the Philippines is one of the twenty-seven (27) countries that sit on the board of AI Safety, Secretary Uy also looked forward to participating in the AI Safety Summit which will be held in Seoul in 2024.

The DICT Secretary was joined by Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and DICT Director Jude Vincent Manuel Gaudan during these meetings. END

During the Ministerial Conference, Secretary Uy was able to meet with heads of delegation of like-minded nations and co-chairs of the Summit such as the United States (represented by Secretary of State Antony Blinken), the European Union (represented by Vice President Vera Jourova), and the Republic of Korea (represented by Foreign Minister Cho Taeyul, seen here exchanging pleasantries with PH Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega). Top right: The Philippine delegation to the Summit for Democracy III.

Secretary Ivan John E. Uy had four bilateral meetings at the sidelines of the Summit. The Secretary met with H.E. Tiit Riisalo of Estonia, Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts, MP, Vice President. members of the Open Government Partnership team, senior executives of Miru Systems Inc. among other Heads of Delegation. The DICT Secretary was joined by Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and DICT Director Jude Vincent Manuel Gaudan during these meetings.