GOVPH

PHILIPPINE HASS AVOCADO MARKET ACCESS TO KOREA APPROVED

September 10, 2023 - The Philippines has completed the requirements for the ruling process for entry of Philippine hass avocado to the Republic of Korea following the Official Notification No 2023-33 of the ROK Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) on 08 September 2023.

The Philippines may already export hass avocado for the 2023-24 season as it is now compliant with the mutually agreed requirements in the workplan. Following the inspections conducted in February 2023, Philippine fresh hass avocado exports from the Philippines are expected to be sourced from orchards and packing houses of DOLE Philippines in Davao, Bukidnon, and South Cotabato.

Hass avocado enjoys popularity in the Republic of Korea as a nutritional ingredient for salads and sandwiches. It is available at the leading retail stores and the online market, in fresh and frozen forms.

The Department of Agriculture, through the Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul and in close coordination with DOLE Korea, will support the PH hass avocado promotional activities in ROK to increase consumer awareness and boost its exports.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega acknowledged the efforts of the Department of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, the Bureau of Plant Industry headed by Dir. Glenn Gerald Panganiban and Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul headed by Agriculture Attache Aleli Maghirang for this market access milestone for new agriculture exports to Korea. This undertaking is in support of the priorities of His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., concurrently Secretary of Agriculture, for acceleration of agricultural development in the country.

“On the heels of the recently signed Philippines-Republic of Korea FTA, this is a welcome development for furthering our trade relations with Korea. We are expecting commercial shipment of Philippine hass avocado to Korea to commence soon,” the Ambassador said. 

As one of the largest food importers in the world, the Republic of Korea is a lucrative market for Philippine agricultural exports. In 2022, the ROK ranked as the 4th largest destination of Philippine agri-food exports with USD574.27 million total agri-fisheries exports value. Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines recorded a 9% increase in agri-fisheries exports to Korea in 2022, generating USD 307.47 million trade surplus in favor of the Philippines. A majority of Philippines agri- exports to the Republic of Korea are tropical fruits (56%). In terms of market share, the Philippines supplies 75% of fresh bananas, 100% of fresh pineapples and papayas, and 5% of fresh mangoes to the Republic of Korea. The Philippines is also the sole exporter of fresh okra to the ROK, along with exports of high-value seafood products such as abalone, sea cucumber, octopus, blood cockle, eel, and fishes. END

PH EMBASSY HOLDS FIRST ESKWELAHAN SA EMBAHADA AND PALARONG PINOY; AWARDS RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE TO 3 FILCOM ORGANIZATIONS

31 August 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy, with the support of the Filipino Community in South Korea, in commemoration of Buwan ng Wika, held the first ever Eskwelahan sa Embahada on August 6 and 13, 2023 at the Embassy premises. This was followed by a culminating event called the Palarong Pinoy and Family Day held on August 20, 2023 at the Yongsan Family Park.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said that the activities provide Filipino multicultural families in South Korea with programs to introduce Filipino culture and heritage to second and third generation Fil-Korean children (KOPINOs). She emphasized that the programs were designed in a way that would ensure an interactive engagement with both parents and children, and showcase Filipino language learning and traditions in a fun way.

Moving forward, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said that the Embassy hopes to deliver more innovative programs for the Filipino community and conduct similar activities in other parts of South Korea where there are similarly large concentrations of Filipino multicultural families.

Joined by at least 10 multicultural families, including both Filipino and Korean parents and children, the pilot Eskwelahan delivered a mix of lectures and activities on Filipino language and culture for both parents and children. For two straight Sundays, parents had a discussion on the Filipino Identity and Heritage led by Ms. Rina Marquez, a Filipino educator. while children learned the basics of Filipino language and history with the members of the Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (PIKO).

Joint sessions for both parents and children were also conducted, including a lecture on Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal by The Knights of Rizal-Seoul Chapter; cooking a variety of Filipino food such as pansit, halo-halo, and turon with Ms. Cathy Israel; and learning the traditional Filipino dance tinikling with the Seoul Filipino Catholic Community. All learning materials were developed specifically by the Filcom Organizations for the program and reproduced by the Embassy for dissemination.

Meanwhile, the Palarong Pinoy was attended by at least 230 individuals, who participated in various traditional Filipino games, such as Luksong Baka/Tinik, Jak en Poy, Ten Twenty, Tumbang Preso, Patintero, Piko, Dama, Sungka, Saranggola-making, Sipa, Agawan Base, Sack Race, and Hilahang Lubid.

The same event also saw the awarding of graduation certificates to the participants of the pilot Eskwelahan sa Embahada, and Certificates of Recognition to 3 Filipino community organizations, including the Incheon Catholic International Community, Tongyeong Filipino Community, and the United Fil-Korean Families. 

Partner Filcom organizations were also given certificates of recognition for their invaluable support and contribution to the success of the event, including the Bisayang Dako sa Korea, Filipino Korea Spouses Association, Filipino Photographers in South Korea, Pinoy Investors in Korea, Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea, Philippine E-9 Chess Club, Seoul Filipino Catholic Community, United Filipinos in Korea, Seoul Filipino Parents and Children Organization, Triskelion Alumni Organization International Council of Korea, and United Fil-Korean Families.

Special prizes were awarded through the support of the Department of Agriculture-Seoul, Migrant Workers’ Office-Seoul, Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration-Seoul and the Department of Tourism-Seoul. END

PH EMBASSY WITH COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS SIGNS MOU ON COOPERATION AND MEET WITH MIGRANT CENTERS AND FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN SOUTH KOREA

31 August 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Korea and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) signed a milestone Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on 27 August 2023 at the Embassy’s Sentro Rizal Hall. The MOU allows for greater cooperation intended to prevent, mitigate, and help facilitate timely intervention for the resolution of cases or incidents of abuse and exploitation of Filipino marriage migrants in South Korea, enhance existing orientation programs, and promote services available to them in Korea and the Philippines.

In her remarks, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega emphasized that the MOU marks closer cooperation between the Embassy and the CFO in undertaking activities that would safeguard the rights and interests of marriage migrants in ROK. In particular, the mutual participation and support of both parties in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) are meant to ensure that Filipino marriage migrants are able to adapt to a different culture and know what to do in case of distress. Meanwhile, the CFO Chairperson, Secretary Romulo V. Arugay, said that this first MOU signed by the CFO with an Embassy manifests the CFO’s commitment to protect marriage migrants and promote unity among Filipino communities all over the world.

Earlier on August 25, the Embassy and the CFO delegation met with the officers of the  NamSeoul Center for Migrant Women & Children in Crisis and received an orientation on the role of migrant centers all over ROK in implementing the “Act on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims.” The Center, which opened on 19 April 2021, offers counseling and legal services to aid foreign women who are victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse. In addition, the Embassy and the CFO Delegation visited a nearby privately-run shelter which is assisting marriage migrants including Filipinos.  The Philippine Government delegation provided welfare assistance in the form of household and food items for the wards of the shelter.

On August 26 and 27, the Embassy with the CFO delegation conducted town halls with the United Filipinos in Korea (UFILKOR) and the larger Filipino community in South Korea.

In keeping with the mandate of the signed MOU, the Embassy is expected to hold its first Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar for recently arrived marriage migrants in South Korea in November 2023, in time for the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. More information shall be made available on the Embassy’s website and social media pages. END