First Balikbayani Tourism Reintegration Program for Overseas Filipinos Held in South Korea
Philippine Chargé d’affaires a.i. to South Korea Christian L. de Jesus welcomes the guests and participants to the Balikbayani Tourism Reintegration Program. (Seoul PE photo)
SEOUL 03 December 2020 — The Philippine Embassy in Seoul held the pilot implementation of “Balikbayani Tourism Reintegration Program for Overseas Filipinos in Korea,” co-organized by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the Philippine Department of Tourism in Seoul (PDOT-Seoul) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), respectively on 29 November 2020.
In his opening remarks, Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Christian L. De Jesus highlighted that South Korea is the first Philippine Foreign Service Post to hold the Balikbayani Tourism Reintegration Program. “With its addition to our existing menu of services, our overseas Filipinos in Korea can now be equipped for alternative jobs, or to become future investors in tourism,” said Chargé d’affaires De Jesus.
Speaking on behalf of DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Director Rowena Yu-Montecillo of the DOT-Office of Industry Manpower Development cited the crucial role of overseas Filipinos in the country’s tourism industry. “We hope to strengthen the skills of our overseas Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as tourism frontliners and service providers. This could provide a sustainable pathway for their productive reintegration when they come home,” she said.
The webinar is the Embassy’s 15th in the series of online seminars held this year to promote reintegration preparedness among the members of the Filipino community in Korea. It covered topics on Philippine tourism industry outlook, business opportunities, government support for returning OFWs, micro-retail marketing, market demand, requirements, and business returns in farm tourism. The pilot webinar had 138 registered participants and over 2,100 views on FB Live. END
Director Rowena Yu-Montecillo delivers the special message on behalf of DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat. (Seoul PE photo)
Tourism Director Maria Corazon Jorda-Apo awards the certificate of appreciation to the resource persons. (Seoul PE photo)
Labor Attaché Maya Valderrama urges the participants to continue learning as part of reintegration preparedness of OFWs in her closing remarks. (Seoul PE photo)
Philippine Department of Tourism and Philippine Overseas Labor Office- Overseas Workers Welfare Administration organizers of the program. (Seoul PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.seoulpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassy-seoul.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinKorea/.
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