PBBM, new SoKor envoy lead SPCR inauguration

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., newly installed South Korean ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa, Korea Eximbank Country Director Moon Jae-jeong, as well as top officials from the national government, Northern Samar local government units and the Department of Public Works and Highways, including representatives from the Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development and Ilsung Construction Co. Ltd., witnessed the inauguration of the “Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) Project” in Northern Samar on July 14.

According to the Embassy of South Korea, the SPCR Project, funded with assistance from its government through Korea Eximbank, stands as “one of the key infrastructure flagship projects of the Philippine government.” It was made possible through a concessional loan agreement of $20.6 million under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) official development assistance program, which was executed on August 19, 2013.

Construction on the SPCR commenced on May 13, 2018 and is now officially open for public use. It spans 11.6 kilometers and connects the coastal municipalities of Laoang and Palapag. The road complements the existing circumferential loop on Samar Island.

The embassy outlined the manifold benefits of the project completion to the region, most notably in terms of improved transportation efficiency. Before, travel time from the provincial capital of Catarman to Palapag and nearby municipalities would take approximately 7 hours. With the opening of the SPCR, travel time has been considerably reduced to 2 hours.

The SPCR inauguration, for the embassy, “marks a significant milestone in [Northern Samar’s infrastructure development. The completed project will boost connectivity, economic progress, and the] quality of life for the region’s residents.”

“The enhanced accessibility and reduced travel duration will have a positive impact on the local economy, contributing to poverty reduction and supporting overall economic growth in Northern Samar,” said the embassy. “By reducing transport costs and facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services, the [SPCR] will promote commerce and trade in the region. Additionally, it is expected to stimulate the development of potential agricultural lands and local industries, creating more opportunities for the community.”

At the inauguration ceremony, Lee’s keynote speech highlighted the project’s significance and the strong bilateral ties between South Korea and the Philippines. He expressed pride in taking part in the infrastructure project, and emphasized its alignment with the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the flagship diplomatic initiative of the Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol, and the country’s “Build Better More” policy. He further mentioned the importance of resilient infrastructure in eradicating poverty and advancing sustainable development.

The Korean diplomat commended the partnership among the two governments and private enterprises in the infrastructure sector, as he noted the Korean engineering and local construction companies’ contributions. He cited the NorthSouth Commuter Railways project as an example, and expressed his anticipation for future collaborations between his country and the Philippines.

Looking ahead, Lee mentioned the upcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and the Philippines, and expressed his commitment to strengthening ties between the two countries. He highlighted the signing of the new EDCF framework agreement in 2022, amounting to $3 billion, as a testament of South Korea’s dedication to the Philippines’s long-term development.

House Resolution (HR) 1126, which was also based on the celebration of the 10th United Nations (UN) Forces Participation Day, was introduced by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio D. Gonzales, Majority Leader Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan, as well as Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre of the Tingog Party-list.

“This resolution recognizes the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea that started way before the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, and has flourished since then,” said Romualdez. “We hope the ties that bind both our countries together shall be perpetually strong.”

Based on the decree, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement signing on July 27, 1953 by United States military commanders who represented the UN Command, the Korean People’s Army and Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, which ended roughly three years of fighting triggered by the 1950-1953 Korean War.

“In July 2013, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, South Korea proclaimed through Act No. 17117 [designating] July 27 of every year as the ‘[UN] Forces Participation Day’…to honor and

It added that the UN Forces Participation Day and the International Memorial Day for UN Korean War Veterans “not only serve as a reminder of the importance of international support and cooperation in maintaining peace and security but moreover, it highlights the strong alliance and diplomatic relations among member-states in the international community.”

The decree said that based on UN Security Council Resolution 83 and Resolution 84, “the Philippines enacted Republic Act 573, otherwise known as the ‘Philippine Military Aid to the United Nations Act,’ which made possible the sending of a Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea [or PEFTOK] to help South Korea defend itself from the invasion of the North.”

“The bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea have always been characterized by mutual trust and support which started on March 3, 1949 upon the recognition of Republic of Korea as a sovereign state by the Philippines—the first Asean country to establish relations with the new nation, and the first [in Asia]...to respond to the call of the UN to help South Korea when it was invaded by communist forces,” the resolution said.

“The Philippines and South Korea have historically been, and continue to be, close diplomatic and military allies, and significant economic partners in terms of trade, immigration, and tourism,” it further stated.

Speaker Kim Jin-Pyo of the South Korean National Assembly received a copy of the resolution also on Monday.