GOVPH

PHL EMBASSY WITH INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON THE CELEBRATION OF MONTH OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS HOLD INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON MIGRATION IN SOUTH KOREA

8 December 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy together with the Inter-Agency Committee for Migration and Overseas Filipinos (IACMOF) hosted the International Forum on Migration with the theme “Empowering Overseas Filipinos / OFWs Towards Sustainable Reintegration” on 1 December 2024 at the Dongdaemun Shared Space to commemorate the month of migrant workers. The event, which gathered at least 230 participants from various Filipino community organizations across ROK, discussed the migration patterns, reintegration approaches, and frontline services for Overseas Filipinos in Korea.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega emphasized the vital role of Filipino migrants in strengthening bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea, while also highlighting the Philippine government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare and rights of Overseas Filipinos. She underscored the importance of collaboration among government agencies and the Filipino community, noting that the forum is meant to highlight the various issues affecting the Filipino community in South Korea, and highlight reintegration initiatives for returning Filipinos.

The forum was graced by messages from IACMOF Chairperson Carmelita G. Nuqui of the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW), Secretary Dante Francis M. Ang II of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. De Vega of the DFA-Office of Migration Affairs.

A panel discussion on the “Profile and Patterns of Migration of Filipinos in South Korea” shed light on the diverse visa categories of Filipinos in South Korea, including E-9 (non-professional) and E-7 (special occupation) visas, and pathways to permanent residency through South Korea’s integration programs. Discussants included Deputy Chief of Mission Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr., MWO-Seoul Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama, PMRW Representative Lance A.S. Velasco, and Former South Korea National Assembly Member Hon. Jasmine B. Lee. Critical issues such as labor standards, financial scams, reintegration programs, community support measures, and Philippine policies on migration were discussed.

The second session focused on various reintegration approaches, featuring PMRW Representative Lance A.S. Velasco, CFO Director Marita Del Rosario Apattad, and OWWA-Seoul Welfare Officer Cornelia D.G. Chanco. Programs such as YouLeaD, Peso Sense, and Virtual Sentro Rizal were highlighted for their role in skill-building, financial literacy, and cultural integration.

The third session addressed reintegration challenges within the context of financial planning and investment opportunities in the Philippines. OFBank Representative Leover Loyola and DA-Seoul Agriculture Attaché Lev Nikko Makalintal shared insights on personal finance management and investment prospects, particularly in agriculture.

The forum similarly celebrated the resilience and achievements of Filipino migrants, featuring testimonials from Vice Mayor Avon Dumalaon, a former EPS worker in South Korea, and Mr. Wilfredo Rosal, Jr., a budding entrepreneur preparing for permanent return to the Philippines. Their journeys underscored the potential of migrant reintegration programs to transform challenges into opportunities.

The final session featured presentations on services available for Overseas Filipinos by Pag-IBIG Manager Theody Jean D. Amador; DOH Senior Health Program Officer Lenliegh Hope Andrade Luces; Presidential Communications Office representatives Angelica May C. Antolin and Frances Paula P. Libo-on; PhilHealth Vice President Lemuel T. Untalan; and SSS-Taipei Foreign Representative Bernardo C. Roman. Frontline service desks were also opened to cater to the individual inquiries of the forum participants.

The forum, hosted by Professor Sherro Lee Arellano and moderated by Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista, highlighted the Philippine Government’s whole-of-government commitment to addressing the needs of its overseas citizens, with a focus on sustainable reintegration, financial empowerment, and community resilience. Forum materials may be accessed by Overseas Filipinos at https://bit.ly/IFMKorea2024materials. For more information, please email the Philippine Embassy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. END

PH EMBASSY HOSTS THE TOWNHALL MEETING WITH DMW

06 December 2024, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, together with the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) – OWWA hosted the Townhall Meeting with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on 29 November 2024, Sunday at the Sentro Rizal Hall of the Embassy.

The meeting was attended by over 120 Filipino community leaders representing forty-five (45) organizations, migrant institutional partners and Employment Permit System (EPS) workers from all over Korea.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega welcomed the DMW delegation headed by Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay. She highlighted the importance of the official visit in further strengthening the people to people ties between the Philippines and Korea, and pursuing efforts in promoting the welfare and interest of over 36,000 overseas Filipino workers in the country. The Ambassador recalled that Undersecretary Bay was instrumental in introducing innovative measures on EPS while she was assigned as Labor Attache in South Korea from 2010 to 2016, and noted that her official mission to ROK is doubly significant to the community as it is also her first overseas visit after her appointment as DMW Undersecretary.

Undersecretary Bay conveyed appreciation to the Ambassador for her strong support to the program and services of the DMW under the one-country-approach, and commended the continuing support and cooperation of the Filipino community organizations and their leaders in implementing these programs. She explained the new mandate and strengthened measures to promote the welfare and protect the rights of OFWs under RA 11641. She shared with the community leaders that her official mission includes senior-level discussions with concerned government agencies in Korea regarding the implementation status of the Pilot Project on the Caregivers and improvements on the Seasonal Workers Program.

The Undersecretary informed the community about the AKSYON Fund which distressed OFWs or their next-of-kin may avail of in cases of emergency or contingency for legal, medical, repatriation or financial aid, and assured them of appropriate assistance from the DMW through its overseas operating arm, the MWO, subject to existing guideline.    

Director Rosemarie Duquez of the Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau discussed the directions and new program initiatives for Filipino EPS workers, while Director Geraldine Mendez of the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau presented the anti-illegal recruitment efforts and accomplishments of the DMW. The engaging open forum which followed after the presentations provided an important opportunity for the OFWs in Korea to clarify concerns, convey appreciation and offer recommendations regarding the EPS, welfare and reintegration services.  

Also present during the Townhall Meeting were Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr., Vice Consul Jilliane Joyce D. Cornista, Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama, and Welfare Officer Cornelia DG Chanco. -END- 

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA DELIVERS LECTURE ON PHILIPPINES-REPUBLIC OF KOREA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO SOGANG UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (GSIS) STUDENTS

08 December 2024, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega was a guest lecturer at the Global Special Lecture Series of the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) of Sogang University on 13 November 2024.

Highlighting the long-standing relationship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega presented a brief overview of our bilateral relations, the milestone commemoration of the 75^th Anniversary of PH-ROK diplomatic ties, and the elevation of our relations to that of a Strategic Partnership. The Ambassador likewise discussed key provisions of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between PH-ROK, announced on 7 October 2024 in the Philippines.

The Ambassador presented the accomplishments and a future-oriented outlook for strengthened cooperation in the political, defense and security, trade and investments, people-to-people exchanges, and socio-cultural spheres between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also shared the recent developments in the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement and the benefits both countries will be able to fully reap once the agreement takes effect by the end of 2024 as well as on the PH-ROK Maritime Cooperation Dialogue, where issues of maritime concerns are discussed extensively. The PH-ROK MCD is the Republic of Korea’s first maritime cooperation dialogue with an ASEAN country.

Sogang University is a prestigious Jesuit university in South Korea. The university’s GSIS program is composed of international students from various countries, including the Philippines. Sogang University also has an education cooperation agreement with the Philippines’ Ateneo de Manila University.

The Philippine Embassy is proud to note that Filipino students in Sogang University are commended by their professors for excelling in their respective fields of studies with most of them having a good command of the Korean language. END