GOVPH

UPDATED IATF GUIDELINES AND MINIMUM PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul informs travelers to the Philippines on the following protocols on vaccination certificates as conveyed by the IATF dated 7 August 2023, following the lifting of the state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines by virtue of Proclamation No. 297 series of 2023:

• For International Arrivals: Presentation of vaccination status and vaccination certificate for COVID-19 is not required. All arriving international travelers are accepted regardless of their vaccination status;
• For Departing International Travelers:The vaccination requirements depend on the destination country. The BOQ recommends that travelers check the requirements of their destination country; and
• For OFWs and Seafarers: The issuance of the International Certificate of Vaccination for Prophylaxis for Yellow Fever Vaccine and other vaccination depends on the requirement of the agency/company.

ANNOUNCEMENT: FAMILY DAY AND PALARONG PINOY

Calling on the Filipino Community and their families in South Korea! Join us for a day of fun and games at the 1st FAMILY DAY AND PALARONG PINOY on August 20, 2023, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Yongsan Family Park Plaza 2! See you there!

READ: STATEMENT ON THE 5 AUGUST 2023 INCIDENT ON THE AYUNGIN SHOAL

08 August 2023 - China Coast Guard (CCG), People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and Chinese maritime militia vessels took blocking and other aggressive maneuvers, including the use of a water cannon, against Philippine supply boats and coast guard vessels on a routine rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre today, August 5, in an area approximately 2.9NM from Ayungin Shoal.

The Philippines demands that China immediately stop its illegal activities in our maritime zones.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is one with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard in their pursuit of our shared mandate to protect and uphold our legal maritime entitlements.  The DFA is making full use of our diplomatic processes and are exercising all possible actions available to us, including the summoning of the Chinese Ambassador over this incident.

The rotation and resupply mission to and the upkeep of the BRP Sierra Madre are legitimate Philippine Government activities in our country’s exclusive economic zone, which are all in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.

As a low tide elevation, Ayungin Shoal can neither be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor is it capable of appropriation under international law – a fact affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award. China cannot, therefore, lawfully exercise sovereignty over it.

China’s illegal exercise of maritime law enforcement powers; interference with a legitimate Philippine rotation and resupply mission, including its aggressive use of a water cannon against our vessels; and any other activity that infringes upon our sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal are violations of international law. END