Union social responsibility project marks good progress and builds new relations with Korean banks in the Philippines

A five-person strong delegation from Korea recently visited Manila on 26 February to review the implementation of the union social responsibility project in the Philippines. The group comprised Mr. Park Jun-Bum, Ms. Lee Ji-Yoon, and Ms Heo Nawoon from the bipartite Korea Financial Industry Foundation (KFIF), Brother Kim Jing-Hong from the Korea Finance Industry Union (KFIU) and Brother Park Han-Jin from the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU).

First launched in 2022, the KFIF financed social responsibility project in coordination with the UNI Asia & Pacific and NUBE-IFO, helped to establish a vocational training centre in the Payatas region near metro Manila.

In this visit, they received updates from the local implementing counterparts on the project’s progress now in its 3rd cycle. The Philippines delegation, represented by Brother Rainer Cruz, President of the NUBE-IFO, reported that despite some hiccups, the project is producing steady results. Nearly 100 persons had received training in basic computer skills, operating sewing machines and massage skills. Sixty persons through the Livelihood component produced and sold goods, with the bulk of the revenue going to them.

In addition, people of the Payatas area also benefited from the various community activities conducted by the training centre. Recent activities included engagement with the UNI APRO Youth Committee Workshop participants who visited the project last December, and the purchase of handcrafted bags by JPGU, with additional orders placed for coin bags for the International Women’s Day event in March.

The Korean delegation also met some of the trainees who have successfully secured employment or started their own businesses after completing programmes at the centre, demonstrating the tangible impact of the initiative.

Joint seminar with Korean Banks

The mission visit culminated in the first ever joint seminar involving representatives of Korean banks operating in the Philippines and NUBE-IFO union leaders on 27 February. The two parties exchanged views and found much commonality on key issues on the current state of the banking industry across the two countries.

The mission concluded with the KFIF and Korean union delegates and Korean bank officials from Hana Bank, Woori Bank and IBK in Manila expressing satisfaction with the project and the first ever cross-border dialogue. Both sides indicated interest in continuing this type of dialogue in future stages of cooperation. They thank the local partners and the UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Organization’s strong coordinating and advisory support in implementing the project under challenging global circumstances.

Rajendra Acharya, UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Secretary, expressing satisfaction with the latest update, said, “I am delighted to learn of the impact that the training centre is making on the lives of the community. The first joint seminar with the Korean banks in the Philippines also marks a pleasant development. We hope that there will be a continuation of such social dialogue which can contribute to stronger and better relations of Asian banks with the local community in the areas they serve.”