PORAC, Pampanga—Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and South Korea remain solid and cordial, if the inauguration of a deep well and sanitary facility constructed by Koreans here on Sunday is proof.
A project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, the deep well and sanitary facility worth P175,000 is aimed at helping Aetas living in Sitio Pidpid, Sapang Uwak in this town.
The project was inaugurated by second district Rep. Gloria M. Arroyo, the former president, and Gov. Lilia Pineda along with Dr. Eun-Mi Yang of Kkottongnae University, and Roberto Tantingco, Vice President for Student Services and Affairs of Holy Angel University in Angeles City.
Yang and Tantingco “labored very hard for the realization of the project, which will benefit 300 Aetas living in the area,” Arroyo said in her remarks.
Dr. Yang, also the dean of planning and director of Catholic Global Education of KU, said the project also aims to study the health and hygiene level needs of the Aeta community, and create and implement health education programs for them.
Meanwhile, Arroyo said she filed a bill in Congress to amend the Ingenious People Rights Act (IPRA) that give them rights to subdivide their land titles.
In fact, she said the land titles of Porac are now ready for partition under the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples.
Pineda thank Dr. Yang and Tantingco for their efforts to improve the health and hygiene of Aetas living in Sapang Uwak.
The project is under the auspices of Academy Partnership Program of the Korean International Cooperative Agency, the international development agency of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, regional director of Police Regional Office 3 assured the safety and security of 16,500 Koreans living in Central Luzon after the kidnapping and murder of Jee Ick Joo last year and robbery of three others by police elements last week.
During his visit to the Koreans’ business center along Friendship Highway in Angeles City on Saturday, Aquino strongly believes the two incidents “will not lead to the demise of the relationship between the countries.”
“Although there are scalawags in the police force as in any other organization, the majority of us are good policemen,” Aquino added.
