EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES


SEOUL REPUBLIC OF KOREA

news

PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES AT THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE (INC-5) HELD IN BUSAN, REPUBLIC OF KOREA


Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega (fifth from left) with the Philippine delegation during the opening ceremony of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, held at the Busan Expo Convention Center, 25 November 2024. The Ambassador is joined by senior officials from the DENR and DOH, as well as multilateral advisers from the DFA.

2 December 2024 - Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega was honored to form part of the Philippine delegation participating in the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment held from 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, South Korea. 

Undersecretary for Planning, Policy, and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was head of the Philippine delegation. The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian nation to include a senior official from the Department of Health (represented by Undersecretary Ann Palermo-Maestral) in its delegation, leading the charge for sustainable healthcare in the region. 

The INC-5 was convened for states to agree upon an internationally binding agreement to reduce plastic pollution. It was estimated that 3,500 people attended, including government officials from 170 United Nations member states, 31 international organizations, industry, civic groups, and academia.

During negotiations, the Philippines called for the need to build a pathway towards the global reduction in plastic production at sustainable levels, the need for binding rules on products, chemicals, and design that ensure a globally coordinated approach, and strong international cooperation tied to the means of implementation to close the gaps in financing, technical, technological, and other capacities in developing countries—particularly archipelagic states and other geographically disadvantaged states, among others.

The Philippines also supported a standalone Article on Health, cognizant that a plastic pollution crisis is also a health crisis, and stood in solidarity with the 95 other delegations that call for a strong plastics treaty.

As host, the Republic of Korea enjoined all members to “end plastic pollution before plastic pollution ends us.” The Republic of Korea also highlighted the country’s efforts to tackle plastic waste, such as introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system 20 years ago to reduce waste and increase recycling rates and strengthening the system through the Act on Promotion of Transition to Circular Economy and Society in 2024, while pledging to share these experiences with the global community. ROK Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul and Minister of Environment Kim Wansup served as ROK co-chairs of the event. They were joined by around plus 140 officials from the ROK ministries of foreign affairs, environment, trade, industry and energy, and oceans and fisheries.

The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) for a Global Plastics Treaty concluded in Busan on 2 December 2024, with plans for a final negotiation meeting. END

The Philippine Delegation to the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment held from 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, South Korea. Bottom, from L-R: Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary of Health Ann Palermo Maestral, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary for Planning, Policy, and International Affairs Atty. Jonas Leones, and DENR Chief Environmental Management Specliast Mr. Albert A. Magalang (Climate Change Service) deliver interventions for the Philippines.

Other News


September 16, 2025
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN KOREA WELCOMES NEW AMBASSADOR

Seoul, Republic of Korea - The Philippine Embassy in Korea welcomed its new Ambassador, Her Excellency Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, Chief of Mission Class I, who arrived in Seoul on 15 September 2025 to formally assume her post as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Korea. She was accompanied by her spouse, the Honorable Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute. 

Read More
September 08, 2025
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY WELCOMES KDIS-DAP INTERNATIONAL SHUTTLE COURSE ON DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION DELEGATES

04 September 2025, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza, welcomed Former Senator Francis Tolentino, local chief executives and national government officials participating in the International Shuttle Course (ISC) on Digital Transformation in the Public Sector program of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management (KDIS) on 02 September 2025. During their visit, the delegation were given a brief overview by Embassy officials of the relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.  In his remarks, CDA a.i. Mendoza acknowledged the important role of local government units in strengthening engagement with other countries. “Diplomacy begins where our people live, in our towns, cities and provinces. It begins with our local government officials who build the trust and confidence of citizens every single day. In several cases, domestic policy informs foreign policy,” he said. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario presented an overview of PH-ROK relations covering key aspects of bilateral relations and shared ROK’s best practices in digital transformation that may be applied by local government units in the Philippines. Former Senator Tolentino, Mission Leader of DAP-ISC, reaffirmed the outstanding relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. During his term as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Tolentino provided instrumental support for the bilateral free trade agreement and defense procurement projects between both nations. As the proponent of the DAP Adaptive Governance and Innovation for Local Executives (AGILE) Program, the former Senator encouraged the delegates to continue working for a better and connected Philippines. Professor Hai-young Yun, Assistant Dean of External Relations of KDIS expressed appreciation for the support extended by the Embassy to its programs, stressing the important role the latter plays in helping delegates gain a deeper understanding of the multi-faceted relations between the Philippines and the ROK. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul continues to emphasize the importance of sub-national diplomacy by supporting capacity-building and knowledge-exchange activities such as DAP-ISC.  By focusing on digital transformation and innovation in governance, the DAP-ISC program harnesses ROK leadership in technology for public service delivery and helps local government units translate these lessons into context with strategies that will empower communities and make cities more efficient, responsive and future-ready. END

Read More
September 08, 2025
PHILIPPINES ADVANCES REGIONAL COOPERATION AT APEC ENERGY MINISTERIAL IN BUSAN

Busan, Korea – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul joined the Department of Energy delegation led by Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara at the 15th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting (EMM15) from 27-28 August 2025, where she reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to work with APEC partners in advancing clean energy, modernizing infrastructure, and building resilient systems for a sustainable and inclusive Asia-Pacific future. 

Read More