PASAY CITY -- The Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have agreed to recognize each other's vaccine certificates, a move that will pave the way for a reinvigoration of people-to-people exchanges.

The mutual recognition of vaccine certificates was discussed during a phone call between Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on 08 February 2022.

Students, tourists, and business persons from the two countries are expected to benefit from this facilitated travel arrangement. ROK was consistently the largest foreign tourism market of the Philippines from 2017-2019. Due to the pandemic, tourist arrivals from ROK dropped by 82.9% in 2020.

During the call, the two Ministers exchanged views on the latest developments in the region, including the Korean Peninsula, and reiterated mutual support for efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.

Secretary Locsin also thanked Korea for its generous support to the Philippines' COVID19 response and the relief and rehabilitation program for the victims of Typhoon Odette. In 2020, ROK was the Philippines' 5th largest source of official development assistance amounting to USD 806.91 million. (DFA)