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SPEAKER MARTIN ROMUALDEZ COMMITS TO DEEPER PH-ROK PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS FOR REGIONAL SECURITY AT THE JEJU FORUM FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY AND THE ASEAN-KOREA LEADERS FORUM

Top most: Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez with ROK House Speaker Kim Jin Pyo (left), with the chairman of PH-ROK Parliamentary Friendship Committee Kim Sungwon. Middle: With members of the 19th Congress and Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega during the turnover of PH’s Resolution No. 83 Strengthening Mutual Cooperation between the Philippines and Korea through the Philippines-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Association. Bottom: PH delegation to the 18th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity with ROK Speaker Kim Jin Pyo, Timor Leste President Jose Ramos Horta, and former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

14 June 2023, JEJU ISLAND, REPUBLIC OF KOREA – Philippine House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and members of the 19th Congress represented the Philippines at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity and the Special ASEAN-Korea Leaders Forum from 31 May to 2 June 2023. The Philippine Embassy in Korea, led by Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega likewise participated in the Forum.

At the Forum, Speaker Romualdez emphasized the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ROK working closer together for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. “The Philippines looks forward to cooperation in promoting sustainable mic growth and enhancing regional resilience, with a focus on energy and food security, among others,” said Romualdez.

As sustainable peace is a key component of economic growth, Speaker Romualdez also said the Philippines continues its effort to reform and modernize the country’s security sector to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity and deal with natural calamities and disasters to pave the way for accelerated economic development.

“We still have ways to go and we will look to partners like the Republic of Korea and those present today in improving these initiatives, and in working together to make sure that the geopolitical challenges of today do not undermine the possible gains of our future,” the Speaker said.

He also pointed out that the Philippines is an advocate of the importance of open communication and effective collaboration between interparliamentary bodies in addressing a range of transnational and global threats. Speaker Romualdez also congratulated his counterpart, Kim Jin-Pyo, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, for hosting the 2023 forum during a meeting between the PH and ROK delegations.

Both Speakers agreed to strengthen PH-ROK parliamentary relations through the exchange of information, parliamentary visits, and sharing of best practices. The House Speaker expressed hope that increased parliamentary cooperation can help create more job opportunities for Filipinos through more investments in the country.

Senior members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Glona Labadlabad and Hon. Emigdio Tanjuatco III represented the Philippines at the Special Session of the ASEAN-Korea Leaders Forum, a special program of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, which brought together parliamentarians and business leaders in the region to discuss pressing issues such as climate change and the diversification of the supply chain.

Members of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-committee including Hon. Princess Rihan Sakaluran, Sultan Kudarat 1^st District, Hon. Ma. Alana Samantha T. Santos, North Cotabato, 3rd District, Hon. John Tracy Cagas, Davao Del Sur Lone District, and Hon. Peter B. Miguel, South Cotabato 2nd District, held bilateral meetings with their counterparts from Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia to discuss institutional ways that will strengthen and foster BIMP-EAGA as a whole, especially at parliamentary level.

The Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity was first launched in 2001 as a platform for international dialogue to seek creative solutions to pressing issues. With this year’s theme of “Working Together for Sustainable Peace and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific”, the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity gathered around 3,000 participants to discuss that the current state of global affairs and more engagement among middle-rising economies in the Indo-Pacific. END

Left top and bottom, Hon. Glona Labadlabad and Hon. Emigdio Tanjuatco represent the Philippines at the Special ASEAN-Korea Leaders’ Forum to discuss PH perspectives on climate change and supply chain cooperation. Right: Speaker Romualdez with ROK Speaker Kim Jin Pyo and the members of the 19^th Congress at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY JOINS THE FILIPINO NATION IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONHOOD

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The Embassy of the Philippines in Seoul joined Filipinos around the world in commemorating the 125th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood with a Flag-Raising Ceremony held at the Embassy grounds on 12 June 2023.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega led the rest of the Philippine Embassy personnel and representatives of attached services during this solemn occasion. Representative Marissa "Del Mar" Magsino of the OFW Party List, who was in Korea on official mission, joined the activity and delivered a special message. Officials from the Embassy and attached services read the Independence Day messages of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Tourism, Migrant Workers, Trade and Industry, National Defense, and Foreign Affairs. The Independence Day message of His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. was read by Ambassador Dizon-de Vega.

The ceremony was streamed live to the Filipino Community in Korea via the Embassy's official facebook account.

#Kalayaan2023 #KalayaanKinabukasanKasaysayan #PHinKorea

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PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN SEOUL FOOD 2023 AND 2023 ASEAN TRADE FAIR

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega on stage during the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the Seoul Food 2023. She also joined ASEAN Ambassadors in Seoul in the opening of 2023 ASEAN Trade Fair which was held in conjunction with the Seoul Food 2023. Philippine fresh produce and food products displayed at the exhibition.

10 June 2023, Goyang City, ROK. Philippine Ambassador to Korea, Theresa Dizon-De Vega attended the opening ceremony of Seoul Food 2023, the largest food exhibition in Korea and Asia’s premium food market show. She also joined ASEAN Ambassadors in Seoul at the opening ceremony of the 2023 ASEAN Trade Fair which was held in conjunction with Seoul Food 2023. The four-day event organized by Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) ran from 30 May to 05 June 2023 at KINTEX, Goyang City, ROK.

PH participation in the trade fairs was spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in cooperation with Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC-Seoul) and Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul (PAO-Seoul).

DTI-EMB and PTIC-Seoul organized the participation of two delegations in the Seoul Food 2023, with coconut products in the Philippine coconut pavilion and plant-based snacks and beverages at the ASEAN Korea Trade Fair 2023. The Philippine Coconut Pavilion is DTI’s initiative anchored on the Research, Marketing, and Marketing Promotion Sub-program component of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP). The delegation was composed of sixteen companies, namely, Benevelle Corporation, Cattleya & Rose Gourmet Foods Trading, Fortune of Wishes Seafood Products, Fruits of Life Inc., Greenlife Coconut Products Philippines, Inc., Hijo Superfoods, Kalipunan ng Maliliit na Magniniyog ng Pilipinas Agriculture Cooperative, Kimes Food International Inc., Marigold Manufacturing Corporation, Miguelitos International Corporation, Profood International Corporation, Pinagdanlayan Multi-purpose Cooperative, Sol’s Italian Food, Theo & Philo Chocolate Factory, Eng Seng Food products, Tongsan Industrial Corporation, and Eng Seng Food Products.

At the ASEAN Trade Fair organized and sponsored by the ASEAN Korea Centre (AKC), the Philippine booth featured healthy and trendy food items such as vegan snacks, Zigmund Enterprise concentrated calamansi with ginger, Jack's Produce Jackfruit based products, and OSH baked fruit chips.

The Food Philippines pavilion of the DA and PAO-Seoul enabled the Philippines to generate greater exposure for our high-value agricultural products in ROK to meet the growing demand of the discerning Korean market for healthy food. A total of fourteen agri-food exporting companies exhibited their products in the Food Philippines pavilion. They were assisted by a DA agribusiness delegation led by Director Junibert de Sagun of DA Agribusiness – AMAS.

Onsite exhibitors that participated in the Food Philippines pavilion of DA and PAO Seoul include, Southern Philippines Fresh Fruits Corp (fresh mangoes, pineapple and cacao tablea), Sangkutsa Food Products Inc (Mango Salsa, Pickled Mango and other picked fruits and vegetables), Mardak Global Export Inc (frozen calamansi, frozen saba, ube, cassava and vegetables), Eng Seng Food Products (fresh young coconut, Fresh/Frozen durian, banana chips, freeze dried fruits), Planters Products Inc (Freeze-Dried Chips, Coffee, Coco Sugar, Coco Skimmed Milk, VCO, Banana Chips, Cacao Tableya), Prime Fruits International Inc (banana chips), Peter Paul Corporation (chili sauce and coconut-based products). In addition, there are a number of Philippine companies that provided their products for display like JelFarm Fresh Produce Enterprise (fresh okra), Hilas Marketing Corporation (fresh okra), Quirino Young Entrepreneurs Association (powdered ube), Avante Agri-Products Phils, Inc. (fresh Cavendish and Cardava banana, pineapple, papaya and mangoes), Carmen Sunrise Exporters Inc (fresh mangoes, papayas, saba), COP Pili Sweets and Pastries (Wrapsody and Y-Nut Pili Nuts products), and Yamang Bukid (turmeric tea).

PAO Seoul also collaborated with the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and leading Korean fruit importers, such as DOLE, Del Monte and Sumifru, to showcase and intensify promotion of Philippine bananas, pineapples, and other fresh tropical fruits to the Korean consumers during the fair. DA agribusiness delegation generated a total estimated booked or negotiated sales amounting to USD10 Million.

The Philippines looks forward to bigger participation in Seoul Food next year as the Philippines and Korea celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. END

Philippine delegation from the DA and DTI poses at Food Philippines and Philippine Coconut pavilion with Ambassador Dizon-De Vega.

AMBASSADOR THERESA DIZON-DE VEGA JOINS THE ELDERS – GGGI HIGH-LEVEL CLIMATE PANEL: GETTING ASIA TO NET ZERO

[In photo] H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega with the panel of climate experts H.E. Jenny Hyoeun Kim, Deputy Minister and Ambassador for Climate Change of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Hon Gro Harlem Brundtland, representative of The Elders and Former Prime Minister of Norway, and Dr. Achala Abeysinghe, Director and Head of Programs for Asia of GGGI. H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, President of the Assembly and Chair to the Council of the GGGI welcomed the participants and Director General Frank Rijsberman of the GGGI moderated the discussion.

10 June 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega was one of the panelists in the High-Level Climate Panel: Getting Asia to Net Zero jointly organized by The Elders and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). The event was held on 29 May 2023 at the GGGI Headquarters in Seoul, Korea.

H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, former UN Secretary-General and President and Chair of the GGGI who also serves as the Deputy Chair of The Elders, a small group of independent global leaders working for peace, justice, human rights and sustainable planet founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela delivered keynote remarks.

In his message, GGGI President Ban said that climate crisis requires a real sense of urgency and collaboration in good faith between global leaders. The challenges are immense but The Elders are resolved to help the world step back from the precipice by demanding ambitious reduction targets and responsible policies and GGGI will continue to help developing countries adapt to climate change and transition to green growth.

During the discussion, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega shared that the Philippines is working on a whole-of-government approach in achieving climate goals. She likewise underscored the importance of private sector cooperation in this goal. “The Philippines’ private sector has been stepping up in the last few years. We have established companies and start-ups that are now working on green initiatives like producing power from biomass, utilizing extensive use of solar power, and BESS facilities. E-transport is likewise moving faster now that the country has a development and regulatory framework for this sector”.

Emphasizing the positive policy environment of the Philippines and its growing recognition of the importance of responding to climate issues, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise noted that, “There is also a growing consciousness (in the Philippines), and this is very important, that countries which do not invest in green technologies and move towards net zero run the risk of losing economic opportunities with international partners.” She likewise shared the positive developments such as greater emphasis on renewable energy under the latest National Renewable Energy Plan, moratorium on new coal-fired plants, and a mandate to increase use of biodiesel, bioethanol, and e-transport.

The Philippine Embassy in Korea continues to work with inter-governmental international development organizations such as GGGI in pursuing the Philippines’ green growth objectives. END