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PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN THE GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE COOPERATION CONFERENCE (GICC) 2023

Top L-R (photos from GICC Secretariat): DPWH Secretary Bonoan delivering his congratulatory remarks at the opening of the GICC 2023. Secretary Bonoan together with ROK MOLIT Minister Hee-ryong Won, Chairman Haider Muhammed Makiya of the National Investment Commission of Iraq and Chairman Park Sun-ho of the International Contractors Association of Korea. Below L-R (photos from DPWH) Philippine delegation during the high-level bilateral meeting with Minister Won and MOLIT officials.

25 September 2023, Seoul-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led by Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan participated in the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference (GICC) 2023 held from 19 to 20 September 2023 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Secretary Bonoan was joined by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, and Project Directors Benjamin A. Bautista and Ramon A. Arriola III during the two-day conference.

Now on its 11th year, the GICC continuous to serve as an important venue for government agencies, private companies and multilateral development banks to build network and share recent developments in the infrastructure sector. The conference was hosted by MOLIT and organized by the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK) and was attended by 60 delegates from 24 countries.

Secretary Bonoan delivered his congratulatory remarks at the opening of the GICC 2023 expressing appreciation to the ROK government for extending assistance to the Philippines' infrastructure projects. The ROK government, through the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund, assisted the Philippines in the completion of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project (SPCR), which was inaugurated on 13 July 2023 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. The Philippines continues to work with the Republic of Korea on various infrastructure projects to improve travel time and boost the Philippine economy.

Secretary Bonoan also led the Philippine delegation in a high-level bilateral meeting with Minister Hee-ryong Won of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) to discuss upcoming infrastructure projects and other areas for cooperation. They also met with Korean construction companies and leaders of the infrastructure industry on the sidelines of the GICC 2023. END

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November 17, 2025
PH AMBASSADOR CALLS ON JAPANESE AMBASSADOR IN SEOUL

Seoul, 4 November 2025 — Philippine Ambassador-designate to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese Fernandez paid a courtesy call on H.E. Koichi Mizushima, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Korea. The two Ambassadors exchanged views on recent APEC engagements in the ROK and efforts to strengthen multilateral cooperation among like-minded partners in support of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Ambassador Mizushima also recalled his fond memories of his earlier posting in Manila as a young diplomat. The meeting underscored the warm relations between the Philippines and Japan, and our shared commitment to advancing regional peace, stability, and prosperity. END

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November 13, 2025
PRESIDENT MARCOS HONORS FILIPINO KOREAN WAR VETERANS AT THE UNITED NATIONS MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN KOREA

Busan, Republic of Korea - H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, paid tribute to the valor and sacrifice of Filipino soldiers who served in the Korean War (1950–1953) during a solemn visit to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK) in Busan on 2 November 2025. President Marcos, accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, was received by Ambassador SUH Jeong-in, Custodian of the UNMCK. Also in attendance were Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office Dave O. Gomez, and Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez. Representing the Government of the Republic of Korea was Minister Kwon Oh-eul of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA). At the Philippine marker within the cemetery grounds, President Marcos laid a wreath and offered prayers in honor of the 7,420 Filipino soldiers who served under the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK). The President paid special tribute to the 116 Filipino servicemen who gave their lives in the line of duty, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their Korean and United Nations comrades in defense of peace, freedom, and democracy. The President also visited the Wall of Remembrance, where he read the names of the fallen Filipino PEFTOK heroes, some of whom hailed from his own hometown, before bowing his head in silent reflection. In the UNMCK guest book, President Marcos wrote:“We honour the Filipino soldiers of PEFTOK who valiantly fought and died shoulder-to-shoulder with their Korean comrades for freedom and democracy. Let us honour their legacy with lives that hold these principles still true. Mabuhay!” Following the ceremony, President Marcos and the First Lady participated in a ceremonial tree-planting at the Garden of the Heads of State, symbolizing the enduring friendship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea and the lasting peace and solidarity forged through shared sacrifice. The visit reaffirmed the Philippines’ enduring commitment to peace, democracy, and international solidarity. It also underscored the shared history and steadfast friendship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, forged in the crucible of war and strengthened by a common dedication to peace and prosperity. The Philippines was among the first countries to send troops to the Korean Peninsula in 1950, deploying five battalion combat teams under PEFTOK as part of the United Nations Command. The courage and sacrifice of the 7,420 Filipino soldiers remain a proud testament to the Philippines’ unwavering contribution to global peace and security. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea is the only UN-designated memorial cemetery in the world and serves as the final resting place for over 2,300 soldiers from 14 nations who fought under the UN Command during the Korean War. The Philippines’ participation and continuing remembrance reflect the depth of the two nations’ historical ties and their mutual commitment to the values of democracy and peace. END

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November 11, 2025
PH AMBASSADOR RECEIVES ROK CANDIDATE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, JUDGE JIN HYUN PAIK

SEOUL, 6 November 2025 — Ambassador-designate Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez received Judge Jin Hyun Paik, the Republic of Korea’s candidate to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the 2027–2036 term, during a courtesy call at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul.

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