South Korea’s top lawmakervisits PH to ‘further boost ties’

THE Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Kim Jin Pyo, is coming to Manila for a two-day visit starting this Sunday, according to a statement from the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC).

The KCC said Kim’s visit from July 23-25 was in light of “further strengthening the ties between the Philippines and South Korea.”

The KCC said that with the many ongoing projects and partnerships between the two countries that includes the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project, the Speaker is “looking forward to further expanding economic cooperation with the Philippines in various fields such as energy, infrastructure, and defense industry.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had disclosed that South Korea is funding 21 projects in the Philippines, with more expected in the pipeline, including flagship projects.

“There are 21 of them and we anticipate even an increase of that,” Marcos said during the inauguration of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR), an 11.6-kilometer stretch with three component bridges from Simora Junction in the Municipality of Laoang going to Barangay Mabaras in the Municipality of Palapag.

Meanwhile, the SPCR was constructed with the assistance of the government of the Republic of Korea, the Palace said.

“I am certain that this undertaking will only further strengthen the cooperation between the Philippines and South Korea,” Marcos said.

“The completion of this key infrastructure initiative links the so-called Pacific towns of Samar and establishes a circumferential road around the entire island connecting markets, industries and communities,” the President said.

He said Korea “has always been a very good friend to the Philippines,” as he also expressed his gratitude for its aid following the deadly Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.