04 April 2023, SEOUL - Former President and Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met with her counterpart, Republic of Korea Deputy Speaker Kim Young Joo on 27 March 2023 to discuss how to further strengthen PH-ROK cooperation on important industries such as smart agriculture, labor, and renewable energy. The group also discussed technological innovations in infrastructure such as the development of smart cities.

The former President and Senior Deputy Speaker was joined by members of the Central Luzon Congressional Bloc including Deputy Speaker Aurelio D. Gonzales Jr., Rep. Lorna Silverio, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Rep. Anna York Bondoc, Rep. Angela Garcia, Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, Rep. Ivan Howard A. Guintu and Rep. Samuel Versoza Jr.

Deputy Speaker Kim was joined by Rep. Kwon SeongDong, Rep. Yang Geum Hee, and Rep. Han Joon-ho.

Members of the Philippine Congress expressed appreciation for the Republic of Korea's on-going Official Development Assistance projects in their respective jurisdictions and hoped that ROK's implementing agency, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), will get an increase in budget for their meaningful development work extended to districts in the Philippines. With agriculture as the main industry in Central Luzon, Philippine legislators looked forward to further cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea on agri-mechanization, smart farming, energy, and promotion of the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP).

At the end of the call, both sides recounted the shared values of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea and looked forward to closely working together especially for the upcoming 75th anniversary of Philippines - Republic of Korea relations. END