ROK contingent in Tacloban hails contribution of Filipino Korean War veterans

Korean War / Wikipedia Photo

MANILA — The Republic of Korea (ROK)’s military contingent, rendering post-disaster reconstruction work in Leyte, has expressed their appreciation to the contribution of Filipino veterans during simple ceremonies held at the South Korean Military Joint Support Base Camp in Palo, Leyte on June 24.

The date is the 64th anniversary of the Korean War, a statement forwarded Saturday by 8th Infantry Division spokesperson Major Amado Gutierrez, said.

Col. Chuw Lon Lee, ROK military contingent commander, awarded seven Filipino veterans with certificates of recognition in appreciation of their contribution to the peaceful resolution of Korean War and for fighting for the Korean People from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953.

The awarding ceremony was graced by 8th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico l. Petilla and other stakeholders.

It can be recalled that the ROK military contingent arrived in the Philippines via Cebu last Dec. 27.

After six months of post disaster reconstruction work, the following were the projects they completed in different towns of Leyte Province: repair and renovation of 16 elementary schools, repair of Leyte Provincial Hospital and Barugo Municipal Hospital, repair and rehab of Palo DepEd (Department of Education) Dormitory and planning building, repair of DSWD regional office, repair of Palo Orphanage building, repair and rehab of Tanauan and Palo Police Stations, repair of BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenues) and COMELEC (Commission on Elections) offices, repair of Tolosa Fire Department building, renovation of Tanauan municipality hall annex and fire station, and renovation and rehabilitation of houses of three Korean War veterans.

In addition, four projects are still ongoing, these are the repair of DepEd regional office, Mohon Elementary School, the Mohon barangay hall and a veteran’s home in Tacloban City.

The first ROK military contingent returned to South Korea on June 23 and the second military contingent arrived on the same day.

“The deployment of troops reflects the gratitude of the Korean people to the Filipinos who fought with them during the Korean War, and their optimism about the future of Tacloban. We hope that their work will bring the people of the two countries closer to each other,” the South Korean embassy said when they were newly deployed in the country and they did as expected, winning the Eastern Visayans’ gratitude and appreciation,” the ROK military commander said.

Velarmino in his message said: “The Korean war became the foundation where the friendship between Philippines and South Korea has sprouted, a friendship that has been strengthened not just in times of war but also in times of calamities, to mention the recent onslaught brought about by the super typhoon ‘Haiyan’/’Yolanda’; the Republic of Korean Armed Forces was one of the first who responded to aide our forces in the conduct of relief and rehabilitation after the onslaught of the said super typhoon and with such actions, we the Filipinos appreciated and will always be thankful for.”