GOVPH

PHILIPPINES HIGHLIGHTS TOURISM AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS UNDER PH-ROK FTA AT KOREA HERALD GLOBAL BIZ FORUM KOREA HERALD

20 December 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega highlighted opportunities for enhanced economic and tourism partnership between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea once the Philippines – Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement takes effect during the Korea Herald Global Biz Forum held on 7 December 2023 at the Mondrian Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

During her keynote, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega emphasized that the FTA can lead to strategic investments in priority sectors for both the Philippines and South Korea, saying, “For South Korea, one major area of interest is to be more competitive in the automotive and automotive parts sectors. A substantial number of priority tariff lines for Korea were eliminated. This would create a huge opportunity for Korean manufacturers in this sector to access the close to 114 million Filipino market based on projections. The Philippines is likewise hopeful that the tariff reduction will increase the interest of Korean companies to invest in the Philippines.”

Aside from this sector, the Philippines looks forward to more interest in new areas of cooperation in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, critical minerals, energy, green technology including green transport, and the creative industries, among others.

The Ambassador also highlighted active people-to-people exchanges, especially in two-way travel. “Tourism is most impactful and effective if it works both ways,” the Ambassador said, noting that an increasing number of Koreans are favoring the Philippines due to its proximity to Korea, beautiful tropical destinations, and the popularity of Filipino culture and cuisine, and products. South Korea has once again become the leading source of tourists for the Philippines, with 1,271,602 visitors as of November 2023. Likewise, more Filipinos are seeing Korea as a favored destination.

Organized by the Korea Herald, South Korea’s largest English newspaper, the Global Biz Forum is attended by leading Korean CEOs and business owners looking to expand their access to the international market and create more trade and investment opportunities. The Global Biz Forum is also an opportunity for industry leaders to discuss the trends in the Korean economy, especially in travel and business.

Aside from Ambassador Dizon-de Vega, Korea Tourism Organization President Kim Jang-sil discussed Korea’s tourism potential and business environment and the remarkable growth of Korean cultural diplomacy which he attributed to the nation’s high global competitiveness. END

SUNFULL Foundation of Korea, PH Officials, Business and Civic Leaders Support Respect Online and for Foreign Nationals

28 December 2023, Seoul. A delegation from the Sunfull Foundation of Korea, composed of civic and business leaders, conducted a second visit to Manila from 06-09 December 2023 to promote their advocacy against cyberbullying, hate speech and human rights violations on the Internet as well as to introduce its newly-launched K-Respect campaign for foreigners and multicultural families in Korea.

Led by its founding Chairman, Dr. Min Byoung-chul, the delegation called on House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and other members of the House of Representatives where their campaign to spread positivity and civility in cyberspace or “Internet Peace”, as well as “K-Respect” was met with a warm welcome.

More than 40 members of the House of Representatives signed off on the Internet Peace pledge with OFW Party-list Representative Marissa Magsino and KABAYAN Party-list Ron Salo helping the campaign get off to a quick start as the first two signatories.

Rep. Magsino, designated as the newest Sunfull Ambassador in the Philippines due to her active voluntary support, soon after introduced House Bill No. 9771 or the “Anti-Cyberbullying Against Children Act”.

The Sunfull Foundation, established in May 2007 in response to a celebrity’s suicide after being targeted by hateful comments online, first visited the Philippines in 2019 and was able to gather 12 signatures through a Resolution filed by Rep. Florida Robes.

An appreciation dinner co-hosted by Sunfull and the Philippine Embassy in Korea was held on December 7 at the Manila Hotel where Dr. Min made a presentation on the genesis of Sunfull’s advocacies and gave out special plaques of appreciation to valued Korean and Filipino supporters. The guests included Rep. Magsino, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chair Sec. Romulo V. Arugay, Korean Embassy in Manila Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Sang Seung-man, Korea National Police Agency and Head of Interpol-Seoul Director General Lee Hyeong-se, and former Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Luis Cruz and former Philippine Ambassador to Singapore and Australia Mindy Calaguian-Cruz, Pasig City Administrator Atty. Jeron Manzanero, and Pasig City Councilor Simon Romulo Tantoco. The following day the Foundation hosted a networking evening with members of the Philippines-Korea Economic Council (PHILKOREC) led by its Chairman Mr. Robert Yupangco, CEO of Zoomanity Group and Yupangco Holdings Corporation as well as members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

The Embassy continues to partner with Sunfull Foundation and other like-minded organizations in pursuit of its mandate to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipino nationals overseas and looks forward to strengthening the bilateral relations at various levels and aspects between the Philippines and South Korea, which will mark 75^th years of diplomatic relations in March 2024. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CONDUCTS YEAR-END EVALUATION AND OPERATIONAL RETOOLING 2023

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega leads the Philippine Embassy’s Year-End Evaluation and Operation Retooling 2023 on 27 December 2023. Section heads and heads of attached agencies present accomplishment and plans under portfolios. Under the one country team approach, the Philippine Embassy team also identifies opportunities to further improve the delivery of services and PH-ROK bilateral relations during the operational retooling session.

 28 December 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul conducted its Year End Evaluation and Operational Retooling 2023 on 27 December 2023. The Year-End Evaluation and Operational Retooling takes stock of the Embassy’s accomplishments in 2023 and discusses new projects and plans, as well as strategies for improved delivery of services for 2024.

The Planning Session showed that 2023 was a productive and meaningful year for the Embassy, especially in forging stronger political, economic, and people-to-people ties to elevate PH-ROK relations, including being engaged in milestones in relations such as the signing of the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement. It was also a year where the Embassy continued to provide essential consular services, introduce cultural and community sports programs, organize relevant seminars and workshops, and introduce improvements in the Embassy infrastructure for the empowerment and upskilling of the Filipino community and to better serve Filipinos in South Korea. In preparation for the 75^th Anniversary of PH-ROK Bilateral Relations, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega led the charting of a year-long calendar of commemorative activities of the Embassy and attached agencies and tasked section heads and heads of attached agencies to create meaningful projects that will elevate PH-ROK cooperation and be beneficial to the Filipino community.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega chaired the year-end evaluation and operational retooling. The session was attended by officers and personnel of the Embassy and representatives of attached agencies from the Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache, Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Seoul, Philippine Department of Tourism-Korea, Philippine Agriculture Office-Seoul, Migrant Workers Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and PAG-IBIG FUND. END