SoKor extends $5-M humanitarian aid to

help PH fight Covid-19

By Ben Cal  June 30, 2020, 9:14 am

Ambassador Han Dong-man

MANILA – South Korea, although its hands are full in containing the coronavirus disease 2019
(Covid-19), has provided over USD5 million (PHP250 million) worth of humanitarian assistance to
the Philippines to help contain the deadly disease.

In a recent interview, Korean Ambassador Han Dong-Man said the humanitarian aid is in the form of
Covid-19 testing kits, high-quality masks, tons of rice, 1,000 face shields, diagnostic kits, personal
protective equipment (PPE), and protective face masks for Filipino veterans of the Korean War and
their families, among others.

Han said that South Korea will never forget the benevolence of the Philippines in helping his country
defend freedom and democracy during the Korean War.

As a gesture of magnanimity, he said South Korea has been extending assistance to the Philippines
the past seven decades during disasters, man-made or otherwise.

“The Philippines is Korea’s long-standing ally. Over the past 70 years since the outbreak of the
Korean War in 1950, Koreans have never forgotten the 7,420 Filipino soldiers who were dispatched
as the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea as part of the UN Forces to fight for the freedom of
Korea during the Korean War,” Han said.
Among the humanitarian aid is the USD1.5 million from the Korea International Cooperation Agency
(KOICA) development program to support the Philippine government to combat Covid-19. This
includes testing kits worth USD500,000 that can yield 35,000 tests, he said.

At the same time, KOICA also shaped its post-Covid19 program, which focuses on building the
resilience of the vulnerable groups in urban and rural areas, strengthening the health system, and
stimulating digital partnerships to support the new normal.

The mid- and long-term programs highlight the importance of building a solid foundation in line with
the Philippine government’s “Economic Recovery Plan” which will accelerate the return to the strong
growth momentum.

Through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) implemented by Korea EXIM Bank,
Han said the Korean government will also provide the Philippines with immediate budget support up
to USD50 million to help the country detect and respond to public health challenges caused by the
pandemic.

The EDCF Covid-19 program loan will support the establishment of national policy in connection with
the national emergency arising from Covid-19; to streamline procurement rules and enable procuring
entities to efficiently undertake procurement during a state of public health emergency; to prepare
policy guidelines on the provision of funds by local government units for programs, projects, and
activities to address Covid-19; and to adopt a national contingency plan for Covid-19 to scale-up
country readiness and response operation.

“The current global pandemic Covid-19 cannot prevent such efforts of the Korean government and
its people to express deep appreciation to the Filipino people,” Han said.

At the same time, Han said a total of USD5 million from the Korea-Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (Asean) Cooperation Fund, will be provided to the 10 Asean countries in the form of
diagnostic kits (17,664 Covid-19 tests, extraction equipment), and 300 PPE sets for each country.

Asean members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. (PNA)

SoKor extends $5-M humanitarian aid to help PH fight Covid-19 | Philippine News Agency (pna.gov.ph)

South Korea donates 1,400 MT rice to

typhoon-affected communities in the
Philippines
Author: DA Communications Group | 12 January 2021

In a gesture of friendship, goodwill, and solidarity, the Republic of Korea donated 1,400 metric
tons (MT) of rice to the Philippines as food assistance to thousands of Filipino families who were
adversely affected by natural calamities in 2020.

“On behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Filipino people, we sincerely thank the
government and the people of the Republic of Korea, led by President Moon Jae-in, for their
unqualified assistance. We cannot thank them enough for their continued generosity and
humanitarian gesture,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

The Korean rice donation came in two shipments: 400 MT in General Santos City, in September
2020 for affected communities in Mindanao; and 1,000 MT in Batangas, in October 2020, for
Luzon typhoon victims.

It was made possible through the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Tier 3 (APTERR
Tier 3) Program.

Among the APTERR member-states, the Korean government responded favorably to the call for
emergency food assistance for calamity victims in the Philippines.

The rice donation was spearheaded by Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
(MAFRA) and sent to the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the National Food Authority
(NFA).

The 1,000-MT rice donation was distributed to thousands of households in Catanduanes who
were severely hit by typhoons in October and November.

On behalf of Secretary William Dar, Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa
welcomed the 1,000-MT Korean rice assistance, on December 18, 2020, at NFA Batangas City,
with the presence of DA, NFA, DSWD, and Korean Embassy officials.

“We would like to express the Philippines’ gratitude to the Korean government and APTERR for
extending a helping hand to the Philippines during times of calamities. Their rice donation will
greatly help aid the Philippine Government in its drive to recover and rehabilitate the calamity-
affected communities in Catanduanes,” said de Mesa.

“We hope the Korean government will continue to support the Philippine agriculture sector,
especially in its fight against COVID-19,” he added.

For her part, NFA Administrator Carol Judy Dansal said “the assistance from the Korean
government came at a very opportune time. We have seen how devastating it was in the hard-hit
communities in Catanduanes. The rice donation will indeed go a long way in ensuring food
security in this most trying time of their life.”
“Considering the severe damages brought about by super typhoon Rolly in early November, the
DA-NFA requested the APTERR Tier 3 program for the reallocation of the donation affected
communities in Catanduanes,” she said.

The DA-NFA, in coordination with the DSWD, ensured the efficient distribution of the Korean
rice donation to intended beneficiaries, she added.

The rice donation through APTERR was the second batch extended by the South Korean
government. The first was in April 2020, when it shipped 950 MT, composed of 600 MT for the
victims of earthquakes in Mindanao and 350 MT for the victims of typhoon Quiel in Cagayan
Valley.

APTERR Tier 3 is a regional cooperation mechanism involving ASEAN member-countries plus

the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the People’s Republic of China. It aims to strengthen food
security and provide emergency rice assistance to victims of natural calamities in ASEAN
countries. ### (DA StratComms)
South Korea donates 1,400 MT rice to typhoon-affected communities in the Philippines | Official Portal
of the Department of Agriculture (da.gov.ph)

Republic of Korea Donates Medical Supplies for COVID-19 Response

             The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines together with the Department
of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines held a Turnover Ceremony on July 27, 2020 in the DFA
lobby for Korea's humanitarian assistance to help the Philippines Government's COVID19
response.

             In the turnover ceremony, the Korean Government, represented by Ambassador Dong-
man Han, handed over to the Philippine Government, represented by Foreign Affairs Secretary
Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., 600,000 high-quality KF94 masks (worth US$500,000) from the Korean
Government, 7 Walk-Through COVID19 Testing Booths (worth US$150,000) from the Korean
Government via the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), 1,000 face shields from
the Korean Embassy and T&B Company (Korean company), and COVID19 diagnostic kits
(worth US$100,000 (10,000 tests)) from SD Biosensor (Korean company).

             Also in attendance in the turnover ceremony were Department of Foreign Affairs

Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs Meynardo LB. Montealegre, Department of
Health Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taiño, and Office of Civil Defense Deputy
Administrator Assistant Secretary Casiano Monilla. Minister Counsellor Sunyoung Kim and
First Secretary Seah Park of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, along with a local
representative of SD Biosensor (Butch Lopez of Zafire Distributors Inc.) and KOTRA Manila
Director General Sanghoon Ko, were also present in the ceremony.

             Ambassador Han said that the Korean Government in Seoul, Korean companies and the
Korean Embassy in the Philippines have gathered to put together joint efforts to provide the
above humanitarian assistance to help the Philippine Government combat the ongoing spread of
the COVID19 outbreak in the Philippines and further deepen Korea-Philippines bilateral
relations. In response, Secretary Locsin expressed deep gratitude for the Korean Government and
companies’ continued active humanitarian assistance to help the Philippines address the
COVID19 situation.
 

             The above humanitarian assistance follows the Korean Government's humanitarian

assistance of US$500,000 worth COVID19 diagnostic kits in April this year. In addition, the
Korean Government is also in the process of providing separate additional humanitarian
assistance to the Philippines worth US$500,000 from the Korea-ASEAN Cooperation Fund in
the coming weeks. The assistance via this Fund will be in the form of diagnostic kits, PCR and
DNA extraction equipment, and personal protective equipment.

             Korea continues to stand in solidarity with the Philippines in its shared battle against the
COVID19 global pandemic.
(Thumbnail Photo Credit): Carlo Bongon / DFA
BRP Jose Rizal with med supplies to arrive
May 23
By Priam Nepomuceno  May 19, 2020, 11:16 am

Share

THANK YOU, SOUTH KOREA. Officials from the Philippine Navy and representatives from South
Korean firms Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanhwa Systems hold a banner showing South Korea's
message of support for the Philippines' battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in
Ulsan, South Korea on Monday (May 18, 2020). The BRP Jose Rizal carries a load of medical
supplies donated by the South Korean government and the two companies. (Photo courtesy of Naval
Public Affairs Office)

MANILA – The BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the Philippine Navy (PN)'s first missile-frigate, is carrying on
its way home medical supplies donated by the South Korean government and the companies that
built and equipped the ship.
In an interview Tuesday, PN public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said
the donation from the South Korean government consists of 35,000 Covid-19 test kits; 20,000 face
masks and 2,000 units of hand sanitizers.

The ship and the medical supplies donation, expected to arrive this weekend, will augment the
Philippines' capacity in battling the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the shipyard that constructed the BRP Jose Rizal, also gave 180
bottles of environmental disinfectants; 300 packs of disinfectant wipes; and 1,080 pieces of face
shields.

Hanwha Systems also provided 492 packs of Vitamin C tablets, with each pack containing 180
pieces.

BRP Jose Rizal departed from the HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, Monday afternoon.

The missile frigate is expected to arrive in Subic Anchorage Area, Zambales on May 23 where its
crew will first undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine prior to the ship’s technical inspection and
low-key acceptance ceremony.

With the arrival of the BRP Jose Rizal, the PN will have its first-ever multi-mission frigate capable of
conducting anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare
operations.

With a maximum designed speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots and a range of 4,500
nautical miles, the frigate has successfully undergone sea trials and sea acceptance tests.

The first of the two frigates contracted under HHI was supposed to be delivered by the third or fourth
week of April this year but was extended due to travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19
pandemic.

The second frigate, to be named BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), is expected to be delivered by end of
this year. (PNA)

South Korea to Add to Us$5 Million Donation to

Typhoon Victims
Format

News and Press Release

 
Source

 Govt. Rep. Korea

 
 

Posted

15 Nov 2013
 

Originally published

15 Nov 2013
 

Origin

View original
15 November 2013 –The South Korean government, which has pledged US$5 million in
comprehensive assistance to aid the survivors and victims of super Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan), has called for more support for the Philippines, according to reports monitored by
the Philippine Embassy in Seoul.

The amount was decided at a joint private-public meeting on emergency relief operations
overseas held by the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) November 12 to finalize its
comprehensive assistance plan. Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul chaired the
meeting, which was attended by the relevant government ministries as well as business and
non-government organizations.

In addition to the humanitarian assistance, the Council agreed to dispatch by today, November
15, the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) composed of 20 medical personnel, 14
paramedics, four staff members of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and
two MOFA officials via military aircraft.

The participants to the meeting were: the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the
Ministry of Security and Public Administration, the Ministry of National Defense, the
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of
Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Emergency Management Agency and the
Korea Coast Guard. The attendees from the private sector included those from the Export-
Import Bank of Korea, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korean Red Cross,
the Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation and the Federation of Korean
Industries.

On November 14, Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said his government should mobilize
additional support, such as official development aid programs, for the typhoon victims at a
weekly policy coordination meeting.

“The Philippines is a close ally of South Korea which took part in the Korean War, a home
country of mothers of many multicultural families here and a valuable partner for shared
growth,” Korea’s head of government said. “We have to do our best to help the people there
to overcome the hardships.”

Korea hunkered down to consider humanitarian assistance as soon as government work

resumed on Monday, November 11, when Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral and
Global Affairs Shin Dong-ik convened an inter-agency meeting on emergency relief for the
purpose. On late Monday, an advance interagency team of emergency relief officers was
dispatched to Cebu to check on damage to South Korean nationals and to ensure their safety.

MOFA has set up an emergency response headquarters in Cebu, led by a Counselor of the
South Korean Embassy in Manila. END
South Korea to Add to Us$5 Million Donation to Typhoon Victims - Philippines | ReliefWeb

South Korea sends 300

soldiers to replace troops in
Yolanda-stricken areas
By: Frances Mangosing - Reporter / @FMangosingINQ
INQUIRER.net / 08:58 PM June 04, 2014
Cebuanos and Koreans based in Cebu province wave Philippine flags to
welcome the arrival of the 300 Korean soldiers at the Mactan Air Base in
December last year to help in the rehabilitation efforts of Yolanda-
affected areas in Eastern Visayas. CARMEL LOISE MATUS/INQUIRER
VISAYAS

MANILA, Philippines—South Korea will send a fresh military contingent

to typhoon-stricken areas in Eastern Visayas that were affected by Super
Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Nearly 300 soldiers, who are also engineers and medics, will be deployed
to replace the troops who are there for six months now, Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Wednesday.
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In the aftermath of Yolanda last November, South Korea sent about 500 of
its soldiers to Leyte to help in rehabilitation and medical operations.
Gazmin noted that this was because South Korea remained in gratitude
because of the Philippines’ support in the Korean War.

The Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea of the Philippine Army was

deployed to help during the 1950s. There were almost 8,000 troops, the
fourth largest under the United Nations Command.

Gazmin was also in South Korea over the weekend to attend the Civil
Military Technology Exhibition and to meet his counterpart and talk
about humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

During his visit, South Korea also pledged to donate a landing craft utility,
16 rubber boats and 200 units of computers.

South Korea sends 300 soldiers to replace troops in Yolanda-stricken areas | Global News (inquirer.net)