GOVPH

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY WRAPS UP PEAK-PINOY REINTEGRATION SEMINARS FOR 2023

10 December 2023, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul together with the team of Promoting Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness to Overseas Filipinos in Korea (or PEAK-Pinoy), held its culminating reintegration preparedness seminar for the year entitled “Usapang Buwis-ness: Pagsimula ng Negosyo at Tamang Pagbubuwis” on 10 December 2023 at the Embassy’s Migrant Workers Resource Center. 

Philippine Tax Wiz Mr. Mon Abrea was the featured resource speaker for the activity. He walked the participants through on the taxation laws, rules and regulations of the Philippines in a practical and easy-to-understand manner. He highlighted the special taxation rules under the CREATE Law especially for business start-ups and incentives for OFWs. 

The session was followed by a panel discussion on business management tips and general taxation with Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), Vice Consul Jilliane Joyce D. Cornista and Mr. Abrea. The OFW-participants, many of whom are already entrepreneurs, shared their own experiences and raised questions on business registration procedures, eligibility for and availment of tax incentives, and property tax-related concerns. 

PEAK-Pinoy is the Embassy’s flagship project in support of the Philippine National Reintegration Program, which is jointly implemented by the PTIC, Migrant Workers Office (MWO) – OWWA, Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO), Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT), and the Pag-IBIG Fund. The project provides continuing info-seminars on commercial, agriculture, and tourism business opportunities for overseas Filipinos in the Philippines by regional area along with entrepreneurship skills, management tips, and financial literacy. 

The year-end PEAK Pinoy was the 14^th seminar held since the project was launched in March 2021. Overseas Filipinos in South Korea are invited to join the next run of reintegration seminars which will be offered by 1^st quarter of 2024. -END-

PHILIPPINES SUPPORTS EFFORTS IN STRENGTHENING HEALTHCARE COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION

21 December 2023, Seoul. The Philippines conveyed its support for efforts that strengthen healthcare cooperation and partnership in the Indo-Pacific Region at the 2023 Health Cooperation Forum in the Indo-Pacific Region on 13 December 2023 in Seoul. The forum was co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia and Department of State of the United States.

The forum aims to build a stronger vaccine cooperation network in the Indo-Pacific region. This year, under the theme “Building a Resilient Indo-Pacific Partnership on Vaccines and Healthcare”, the forum’s agenda has expanded to ASEAN-Korea cooperation on digital health, universal health coverage and workforce participation. Representatives from each ASEAN member state were invited as panelists in the special sessions.

Ms. Heidi Umadac, Supervising Health Program Officer of the Bureau of International Health Cooperation of the Department of Health (DOH-BIHC) was the Philippines’ representative to the forum. She delivered the PH intervention with emphasis on the DOH’s 8-point agenda to strengthening primary health care, utilizing digital health technology, health system resiliency, mental health and well-being, advancement and protection of health workers’ rights and well-being and strengthening the health system and structure by mainstreaming health security, enhancing disease and public health surveillance, disease prevention and control, epidemic and pandemic response capabilities across levels of the healthcare system.

The Philippines also announced that the country’s first vaccine manufacturing facility will soon rise as the Glovax Lifescience Corp. has started building its Php7.5 billion vaccine facility in Taysan, Batangas, that aims to produce 50 million doses annually. The facility is a partnership between PH local firm Glovax Biotech and ROK pharmaceutical company Eubiologics.

The Philippines looks forward to continued cooperation with the Republic of Korea on priority areas such as on the establishment of the Philippines’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention digital health technology, supply chain management, pandemic response, capacity building for health workers on universal health care, and vaccine development. END

Philippines Re-Affirms Close Engagement with Korea in S&T and ICT

21 December 2023, Seoul. The Philippines participated in the ROK Ministry of Science and ICT Policy Day for international partners. The event opened by Minister Lee Jung-ho provided the diplomatic corps and other international partners with a roadmap to the S&T and ICT policy and cooperation thrusts of Korea. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega and Italian Ambassador Emilia Gatto delivered remarks on behalf of the diplomatic corps. In her message, Ambassador Dizon-de Vega re-affirmed its priority to maximize S&T and ICT engagement with Korea through various platforms and primarily through the PH-ROK Joint S&T Committee Meeting, the next iteration of which will be held in 2024 as both countries commemorate 75 years of relations. END