8September 2019, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy participated in the 2019 Foreign Workers Festival and the 2019 Employment Permit System (EPS) Conference hosted by the Human Resource Development Korea (HRDK) today. Both events commemorated the 15th year of EPS which began in 2004.

Addressing more than a thousand participants in the Festival, Philippine Ambassador Noe A. Wong lauded the HRD Korea for 15 years of enduring cooperation on foreign workforce development under the EPS. He cited that the Philippines was the first country to sign the MOU and deploy the first 92 EPS workers who arrived at Incheon in 2004. Since then, the EPS has helped fulfil the youthful dreams of over 57,000 Filipino EPS workers for remunerative work and a better future for their families. Ambassador Wong highlighted the commemoration of the 70th year of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Korea this year and affirmed the country's commitment for deepening cooperation on various areas including the EPS.

In his message, President Kim Dong Man attributed the dynamism of small and medium sized firms in Korea to the productivity of the EPS workers. He expressed the commitment of the HRDK to continually ensure the orderly sojourn, human rights protection, and integrated social support for all EPS workers through community activities such as the Foreign Workers Festival.

During the EPS Conference, the HRDK awarded the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) with a Plaque of Appreciation for 15 years of cooperation on EPS.
Also present during the commemorative events were POEA Deputy Administrator Villamor Ventura S. Plan, Director Rene Limjuco, Labor Attache Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama, Assistant Labor Attache Teresa Lourdes L. Pimentel, Welfare Officer Aniceta G. Deuna, and POLO personnel.

The 2019 Foreign Workers Festival featured cultural and musical performances, country booths, and various services for the EPS workers. On the other hand, the 2019 EPS Conference discussed the milestone accomplishments for the last 15 years, the introduction of new program and facilities, country's best practices, and future plans for enhancing the implementation of the EPS. END