WeGO Secretary-General meeting with the Ambassador of the Philippines to Korea

Seoul, June 19th – During the meeting, Secretary-General Jung Sook Park highlighted the active participation of cities from the Philippines in WeGO’s training programs and knowledge-sharing opportunities. H.E. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega expressed the Office’s enthusiasm in encouraging the Philippine cities to bid as hosts on WeGO’s upcoming EXCOM and General Assembly meetings.

Several Philippine metropolitan smart cities are active members of WeGo and consistent participants in its capacity-building and training initiatives. Makati City, Quezon City, Baguio City, and San Fernando, La Union are some of the active local government units in the Philippines that work with the organization to achieve their smart city platform goals. During the call, Secretary General Park expressed appreciation for the Embassy’s support in disseminating information on WeGo projects and activities, including people-to-people exchanges, training, and large-scale meetings to discuss smart city projects.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also assured the organization of the Philippines’ continued support for WeGo’s programs, highlighting that incentives such as the Seoul Smart City Prize promotes inclusivity and helps usher developing localities to development through improved digital and ICT platforms. She likewise welcomed WeGo’s new thrust and focus on climate change, sustainability, and green technology, aside from digital and ICT cooperation. With its headquarters in the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and Secretary General Jung agreed to work closely together for more active LGU participation in WeGO’s upcoming activities for 2023 and beyond. Further possible cooperation between the WeGO and cities from the Philippines has been discussed, especially with a focus on matchmaking programs.

About WeGO

The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 7th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), the Mediterranean (Beyoglu, Turkey), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.

WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.

Press Contact:
Name:  Kakim Danabayev
E-mail: kakim@we-gov.org
Phone: +82-70-4202-9169