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Philippines Reaffirms Commitment To Digital Financial Inclusion At 8th Session Of The Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Steering Committee

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John E. Uy represented the Philippines at the 8th Session of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Steering Committee (APIS-SC-8) held in Jeju Island, South Korea from 25-26 September 2024. Secretary Uy was joined by officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul headed by PH Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega

26 September 2024, JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA - Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John E. Uy represented the Philippines at the 8th Session of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Steering Committee (APIS-SC-8) held in Jeju Island, South Korea from 25-26 September 2024. The meeting was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) for APIS, and hosted by the Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives (KFCC). Secretary Uy was joined by officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega.

During the Steering Committee Meeting, the DICT Secretary reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to closing the digital divide using digital innovation to drive sustainable growth and digital inclusion. The Philippines recognized the essential role of technology, multilateral cooperation, and enhanced financing in advancing the 2030 Agenda. Secretary Uy also enjoined the meeting to take decisive steps in enhancing regional connectivity, a central goal of the APIS Action Plan 2022-2026, positioning the Asia-Pacific as a global leader in digital transformation. Secretary Uy also highlighted that the DICT is working to bridge the digital divide through policies that will enable Filipinos to participate in the digital economy.

Organized by ESCAP and hosted by the Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives (KFCC), APIS-SC-8 focused on reviewing progress and discussing the 2024-2025 work plan and further solidifying the region's dedication to digital cooperation and inclusion. Since 2016, the ESCAP secretariat has been promoting the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Initiative (AP-IS). As a region-wide multi-stakeholder platform, AP-IS aims to bridge the digital divide and accelerate digital transformation by promoting digital connectivity, digital technology, and data use in the Asia Pacific region.

The Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives, ROK's leading mutual financial institution, also hosted a forum in collaboration with the UN ESCAP on Community Development and Digital Financial Inclusion. The forum, divided into multiple sessions, discussed the role of financial cooperatives in community development and Digital Financial Inclusion for Global Community Development. END

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January 29, 2026
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL JOINS 44TH INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY

23 January 2026, Seoul–Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez joined Korea Customs Service (KCS) Commissioner Myeong-ku Lee, senior officials, and members of the diplomatic corps in celebrating the 44th International Customs Day on 23 January 2026 at Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam. The event underscored the vital role of customs in securing and facilitating global trade—a field of growing cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. In his address, Commissioner Lee highlighted that modern customs go beyond processing goods, serving as a critical function for trade facilitation, supply chain security, and public safety. He also noted KCS’s use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve efficiency, inspections, and risk response. These initiatives align with the Philippines’ customs reform efforts and ongoing collaboration with the KCS, including information exchange, capacity-building, and technical cooperation to strengthen enforcement, risk management, and trade facilitation. END

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January 28, 2026
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL EXPLORES COLLABORATION WITH EAAFP ON MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION

25 January 2026, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, H.E. Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez and the Embassy’s Political and Economic Section met with Ms. Jennifer George, Chief Executive of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Secretariat on 21 January 2026. Ms. George was accompanied by Ms. Jisun Lee, Foundation Officer and Ms. Kyle Esperanza Zuleta, Program Officer of EAAFP.Ambassador Fernandez highlighted the strong complementarities between the conservation of migratory birds and the promotion of sustainable tourism, noting that many key bird migration areas in the Philippines overlap with the country’s prime tourism destinations. Advancing regional cooperation for migratory bird protection would likewise help raise awareness of the Philippines’ wetlands and coastal ecosystems. The Ambassador further emphasized the importance of integrating tourism and cultural dimensions into this undertaking, citing Philippine dances inspired by bird movements as expressions of the country’s deep cultural connection to nature.Ms. George conveyed that the EAAFP is an active partnership of 22 countries and 18 partners working together to conserve migratory waterbirds, their habitat and the livelihoods of people who depend on them.  Building on the success of the EAAFP’s 12th Meeting of Partners (MOP12) in Cebu City, Philippines from 14 to 18 November 2025, EAAFP and Embassy officials had a productive discussion on further exploring areas of collaboration on conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitat.  The Philippines remains an important flyway for migratory birds with seven (7) designated Flyway Site Networks in the country, including the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Naujan Lake National Park, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area, Lake Mainit, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary and Sibugay Wetland Nature Reserve. END

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January 28, 2026
PHILIPPINES SEEKS EL SALVADOR SUPPORT FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL CANDIDATURE

20 January 2026 – Philippine Ambassador to the ROK Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez paid a courtesy call on H.E. Federico Miguel Guerrero Avendaño, Ambassador of the Republic of El Salvador to the Republic of Korea, reaffirming the warm and friendly relations between the Philippines and El Salvador. 

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