GOVPH

PH - ROK PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KIM SUNGWON HOSTS LUNCHEON IN HONOR OF SENIOR DEPUTY SPEAKER GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

05 April 2023, SEOUL - Philippine-Republic of Korea Parliamentary Friendship Committee Chairman Kim Sungwon hosted a luncheon in honor of former President and Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 27 March 2023. At the luncheon, both sides affirmed their commitment to strengthening Philippines-Republic of Korea Parliamentary relations especially in key areas of cooperation such as labor and agriculture.  

Former President and Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was joined by members of the Central Luzon Congressional Bloc, Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, and investment officials of the Philippines from the Monetary Board of the Philippines and the Clark Development Corporation. For the Republic of Korea’s part, Rep. Kim Sungwon was joined by Rep. Min Hyungbae, Vice Chair of the PH-ROK Friendship Group, Rep. Lee Jong-Bae, Rep. Han Jun-Ho and Vice President of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) Park Chul-heung. 

Held at the National Assembly’s Sarangjae Hanok Reception house, the lunch was a testament to the strong PH-ROK friendship in the legislative as well as the commitment of the members of the Philippine Congress to spur jobs and investments in their respective jurisdictions.

Senior Deputy Speaker Macapagal-Arroyo extended an invitation for the National Assembly members to visit the Philippines. END  

Strengthening PH-ROK Parliamentary Relations. Former President and Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rep. Kim Sungwon are joined by their respective delegations. Sarangjae Reception House, National Assembly of Korea.

SENIOR DEPUTY SPEAKER GLORIA MACAPAGAL - ARROYO MEETS WITH REPUBLIC OF KOREA DEPUTY SPEAKER KIM YOUNG JOO

04 April 2023, SEOUL - Former President and Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met with her counterpart, Republic of Korea Deputy Speaker Kim Young Joo on 27 March 2023 to discuss how to further strengthen PH-ROK cooperation on important industries such as smart agriculture, labor, and renewable energy. The group also discussed technological innovations in infrastructure such as the development of smart cities. 

The former President and Senior Deputy Speaker was joined by members of the Central Luzon Congressional Bloc including Deputy Speaker Aurelio D. Gonzales Jr., Rep. Lorna Silverio, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Rep. Anna York Bondoc, Rep. Angela Garcia, Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, Rep. Ivan Howard A. Guintu and Rep. Samuel Versoza Jr.

Deputy Speaker Kim was joined by Rep. Kwon SeongDong, Rep. Yang Geum Hee, and Rep. Han Joon-ho.

Members of the Philippine Congress expressed appreciation for the Republic of Korea’s on-going Official Development Assistance projects in their respective jurisdictions and hoped that ROK’s implementing agency, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), will get an increase in budget for their meaningful development work extended to districts in the Philippines. With agriculture as the main industry in Central Luzon, Philippine legislators looked forward to further cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea on agri-mechanization, smart farming, energy, and promotion of the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP).

At the end of the call, both sides recounted the shared values of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea and looked forward to closely working together especially for the upcoming 75^th anniversary of Philippines - Republic of Korea relations. END 

AMBASSADOR ELIZABETH BUENSUCESO DELIVERS SPECIAL LECTURES ON ASEAN CENTRALITY AND WOMEN PEACE AND SECURITY IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S MONTH

31 March 2023 - In commemoration of National Women’s Month, the Philippine Embassy in Korea invited Philippine Eminent Person to the High-Level Task Force of the Post-ASEAN 2025 Community Vision and Foreign Affairs Adviser Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso to deliver a series of talks on the importance of ASEAN Centrality, the role of women in maintaining peace and security in ASEAN, and the post-2025 ASEAN Community vision roadmap in various Korean institutions. Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega also joined Ambassador Buensuceso in all the activities. 

As a highlight of the lecture series, Ambassador Buensuceso delivered a special presentation at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) on 24 March 2023 to an audience of ROK government officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Seoul, and students of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. 

Central to Ambassador Buensuceso’s lecture is the important role that women play in diplomacy and the Philippines’ active participation in making sure women continue to actively participate in the peace process and conflict resolution within the region through the ASEAN Women, Peace, and Security registry. She also offered her insights on the future of ASEAN-Republic of Korea relations. 

Ambassador Buensuceso also delivered a special lecture on the importance of ASEAN Centrality, negotiations, and diplomatic communications to the students of the Graduate School of International Studies at the prestigious Ehwa Womans University on 22 March 2023. Ambassador Buensuceso likewise shared inspiring words to aspiring women foreign service officers based on her forty-two years of service as a Philippine diplomat. 

Ambassador Buensuceso also visited the ASEAN Korea Centre in Jongno, Seoul to discuss future cooperation activities with ASEAN Korea Centre Secretary General Kim Haeyoung. The Asia Society in Korea also conducted a special interview with Ambassador Buensuceso’s as part of its Ambassador Interview series. The interview revolved around her experiences as a trailblazing Filipina diplomat. The interview series is uploaded on the Asia Society in Korea’s official page. 

The Philippine Embassy in Korea held these series of informational discussions with the Republic of Korea to highlight the historical contributions of Filipinas in the diplomatic and policy-making space, share information regarding policies on women, including programs and projects in the Philippines, and underscore that gender equality is only achieved if both men and women are included in decision-making processes at all levels.  END