MANILA, (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III reported a fruitful visit to South Korea, saying the Philippines could learn from that country to be progressive.
In his arrival message at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Friday evening, the President said he went home from South Korea with strong determination to continue pursuing national transformation that his administration has been spearheading.
“Nakita po natin ang isang bansang dumaan din sa napakatinding pinsala, at ngayo’y talagang tumatamasa na ng kahanga-hangang kaunlaran. Ang matibay ko pong paniniwala: Kung kaya nilang maabot iyon, tiyak ko po, kaya rin itong maabot ng Pilipino,” the President said in his message.
The President likewise asked the support of every Filipino to join the collective effort to transform the country into a more progressive nation.
“Nakakataba po talaga ng puso ang pagkakataong maging kinatawan ng aking mga Boss sa ating mga karatig-bansa—dahil talaga nga pong ibang-iba na ang mukhang maihaharap natin sa mundo ngayon. Hindi po ako magsasawang sabihin: Talagang napakasarap maging Pilipino sa mga panahong ito,” he said.
Also in his message, the President said he got the support of President Park Geun-Hye for the country’s quest for stability in its disputed territory.
There was fruitful discussion on the issues of defense, disaster response, trade, maritime dispute and sports, the President said.
President Park committed South Korea’s assistance to Zamboanga City, which was devastated by recent violence as well as to the Visayas region affected by a strong earthquake this week.
South Korean companies like Hanjin have committed to intensify its investment in the country, he reported. The Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), which contributes to around 10 percent of power generated in the country, wanted to widen its operations in the Philippines.
Lotte, company engaged in hotel business, wants to put up hotel projects in the Visayas region, the President said. It also eyes to invest in other parts of the country to build more hotels, theme park, office space, and others.
South Korea’s National Pension Service has an available billion that could be invested in the Philippines each year, according to the President.
The extraordinary developments in the Philippine economy have generated a lot of interest in South Korea to bring its money here and invest, he said.
The President also said he had a successful interaction with Filipinos leaving or staying in South Korea while in his two-day state visit to that country.