TACLOBAN CITY – Over 300 South Korean soldiers are to arrive in Leyte before the end of this month as similar number of soldiers assigned here for their government’s humanitarian response due to supertyphoon Yolanda are to return back to their country. This was revealed by Colonel ChulWon Lee, commander of the South Korean contingent dubbed as “Araw Forces Joint Support Group,” in a press conference on May 30, 2014. According to Lee, of the 300 members of their contingent, 13% of them will remain being officials of the echelon. The new batch of the Korean humanitarian contingent will arrive on June 28 as they will also focus on the rebuilding and rehabilitation of public schools and offices and also help repair the damages houses owned by Filipino veterans of the Korean War. “I hope that they will be received by the locals with the same response they did to the first batch,” said Lee, referring to the incoming members of their contingents. Lee said that the six month period stay of their members is enough as they also miss their loved ones back home, among other reasons. The South Korean military forces arrived in the region January, 2014. They set up their camp at the Government Center, Barangay Candahug in Palo, Leyte. And during their stay in Leyte for more than six months now, they helped repair 15 public schools in Palo, Tanauan and Tolosa and the Leyte Provincial Hospital, Lee said. Aside from doing the repair of damaged public buildings, the Korean group also conducted medical missions in areas hit by Yolanda. Lee said that while Tacloban, considered to be the ground zero of Yolanda, is not part of their original area of assignment, they also join in the barangayan conducted by the city government and sometimes lend some of its equipment if there is a request. The areas where the Korean contingent conducts their humanitarian effort are mentioned under an agreement signed by the Philippine and Korean governments. Lee said that they are considering of expanding their areas to include the town of Dulag, another Yolanda-hit town in Leyte. Aside from helping in the rehabilitation of public buildings like schools, fire station, health centers, the Korean group also offers on training on heavy equipment operation and conduct language lessons. (ROEL T.AMAZONA)

PALO, Leyte – Dionisio Montajes, Jr., 21, is to leave his hometown of Merida in Leyte next month to work abroad with a promise to help his mother and two younger siblings of a good future. “I promised my mother to help her and my younger sisters. And working abroad will just be the beginning of that promise to them,” Montajes said. Montajes dream to work abroad came into a reality after he was accepted by a company based in Saudi Arabia, months before he finished his senior high school at Merida Vocational High School. He is assured of a P25, 000 monthly salary, more than enough to provide the needs of her family and send her younger sisters to school. His father, Dionisio, Sr. died on May 20 and was buried a day before he accepted his diploma and credentials as a license automotive mechanic. On March 30, Montajes joined 99 others in a graduation rites held at the municipal hall of this town. “My father died because of illness on May 20 and we just buried him yesterday (May 29). I will assume the responsibility of sending my two younger sisters to school,” said Montajes, whose mother, Normita, 39, broke into tears during the commencement exercise. Montajes family now lives in his grandmother’s house in Macario village, Merida town, after Yolanda totally destroyed their house. Students from model schools of Palo National High School in Palo town and Merida Vocational School in Merida were the last batch of senior high school who graduated this academic year in 33 model schools nationwide. Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro commended the students for their resilience and the courage to continue their education even if they lost their loved ones and houses during the storm. “You are battered, but not defeated. You are proof that Filipinos are stronger than the supertyphoon. I encourage you to use your skills to rebuild Leyte,” Luistro told graduates during the graduation rites held at the Palo town hall on May 30. The program blended academic and vocational skills of students that would make them prepared for employment, after 12 years of basic education. “This is a different graduation since students are more matured than high school graduates. They did not just receive high school diploma, but also a national certification from TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority),” Luistro said. The first 100 enhanced basic education graduates in Leyte will be employed by Andok’s Litson Corporation, Accudata, MAC Builders, Inc., Toyota Tacloban, Kia Motors Ormoc, Automedic, and a firm in Saudi Arabia. Of all the graduates, only 10 will proceed college education. Graduates received national certification II for commercial cooking, housekeeping, food and beverages services, computer hardware and servicing, welding, pipefitting, automotive servicing, driving, and motorcycle and engine servicing. Nationwide, there are about 4,000 to 5,000 graduates of K to 12, representing the model batch in all regions nationwide. Leyte held the last graduation rites for senior high school nationwide as storm impact disrupted classes. “There are many challenges in the piloting of the program, but we are improving it. The curriculum is being developed by different government agencies and employer’s group,” The DepEd began the enhanced basic education program by launching universal kindergarten in school year 2011-2012, followed by a new curriculum for Grade 7 in school year 2012-2013. School year 2016-2017 will mark the formal implementation of the Grade 11 curriculum, to be followed by the Grade 12 curriculum in school year 2017-2018. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

Pasig City – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today (May 27, 2014) recognizes nine local government units (LGUs) for being champions of innovations in local economic development during the Leader’s Forum on Growing Local Economies at the Marco Polo Hotel. The forum is an activity under the Local Government Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED), a collaborative program between the governments of Canada and the Philippines, through the DILG. DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero, representing Secretary Mar Roxas, identified the nine LED champions as Pangasinan, Bohol, Zamboanga del Norte, Metro Naga, Metro Iloilo, Guimaras, Leyte, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. Panadero said these provinces were able to attract investments, create jobs and increase tourism arrivals within a period of three years through the LGSP-LED program. “We are grateful to our development partners like the Canadian government because through their interventions, we are able to provide LGUs with much-needed financial and technical assistance to enhance their potentials into becoming business-friendly and competitive entities,” he said. “It is always fitting to recognize the vital roles and good practices of LGUs as potent partners of the national government in achieving sustainable economic development in the country, and I am glad that this forum provides for that purpose”, he added. Another highlight of the forum is the launching of the new batch of LGSP-LED projects for implementation in the provinces of Albay, Aklan, Antique, Cebu, Davao del Norte, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Palawan, Siquijor, and Sorsogon. All these projects will focus on tourism development. The event also serves as a venue for leaders to interact with fellow stakeholders, as well as to strengthen and create new partnerships, and share their knowledge, good practices and models on local economic development. Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder, local chief executives and development partners are expected to attend the occasion and tackle information on investments attraction and promotion, and public-private partnerships, among others. Through the LGSP-LED program, the DILG provides technical advices and trainings to selected LGUs on how to engage local private sectors in enhancing local tourism industries and creating tourism programs to attract more investors and increase job opportunities. From 2011 to 2013, LGSP-LED LGUs have attracted almost P6 billion in investments and created over 2200 new jobs in different regions in the country. (PR)

TOLOSA, Leyte – The American Chamber Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.(AmCham) donated 30 fishing boats made of fiber glass to fishermen coming from different coastal towns in Leyte. The donation of the 18 footer fishing boats was held last May 22 in Barangay Dona Brigida, this town, and led by AmCham’s president Rhick Jennings and its executive director Ebb Hinchcliffe. Also present were rehabilitation czar Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto and Mayors Remedios “Matin” Petilla of Palo; Pelagio Tecson of Tanauan and Erwin Ocana of this town. The beneficiaries of the fishing boats donated by the American business chamber came from the different coastal villages of the three towns which were among the hardest areas in Leyte during the onslaught of Yolanda last November 8, 2013. Hinchcliffe, in his message, said that the fishing boats donated by them were just part of their “overall effort” to help rebuild Leyte. “It may be in another set of boats for another set of recipients but surely more help will still come from us,” Hincliffe said. The boats, which were first tested in Bacoor, Cavite before they were brought here, were donated by different companies and individuals who are affiliated with AmCham. The donations were 18-footer fiberglass boats painted in red, white and blue. These include Arankada, Sc Johnson & Son, Ambassador Charles Salmon, Fair Isaac (ASPAC) Ltc., FICO, US Chamber Foundation, Time Depot, Harte-Hanks Philippines, New World Makati Hotel, Nu-Skin Enterprises, Inc., American Camber Foundation, Quezon Power Philippines, Inc., Rapha Health Institute, Mary Kay Philippines, Inc., Atty. Peter Yap, Manpower Group, FactSet, UHS Essential Health Philippines, Inc., Mr. Rhick Jennings, Del Monte Philippines and Del Monte Foundation. The AmCham founded on December 06, 1985 which acts as the socio civic arm of member companies of American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. (AHLETTE C. REYES)