KOREAN Ambassador Choi Joong-kyung Friday presented to Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 7 Manager Modesto Membreve the feasibility study and detailed design for the improvement of the Malinao Dam in Pilar town. Resident representative Kim In of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) assisted the ambassador in the handover rites held at the Tarsier Room of the Bohol Beach Club in the resort island of Panglao . The dam is the main component of the Bohol Irrigation Project Stage 1 (BHIP 1). The study and the detailed design seek to increase the dam height by two meters that would automatically double the reservoir capacity from five million to 10 million cubic meters.

In his welcome message, Aumentado thanked Choi, Kim who signed with the governor and then NIA Administrator Marcelino Tugaoen a year ago the records of discussion whereby Korea will donate US$1 million for the conduct of the study and detailed design, President Man-Hwan Park of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for providing the funds and Dr. Kim Yung Jin and his team from the Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) who conducted the study. For his part, Choi who punctuated his handover speech with sentences and phrases in Tagalog and Cebuano said the funding and preparation of the study and detailed design are gestures of support and friendship especially now that the Philippines and Korea are celebrating the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations and cooperation.

The ambassador said his country especially remembers that during the Korean war, 112 young “sundalong Filipino” or Filipino soldiers valiantly fought side by side with their counterparts and sacrificed their lives to protect the freedom and democracy of Korea. “We were good friends before – and that friendship has produced this tie-up – a combination of Filipino potentials and Korean development expertise,” Choi said. He added that he had been to Subic where some 15,000 Filipinos work at the shipyard of foremost Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd. “Knowing the Filipinos' potentials, it would not be far behind that you will be establishing your own shipyard,” he said. “From good friends, let's be best friends – because then, 'kaya natin ‘to!' – yes, we can – for a better future,” the ambassador said.

At the same time, he thanked the Provincial Government of Bohol, NIA, and other stakeholders for their support in the study. He said he looks forward to signing the MOA marking the implementation of the project. Aumentado said aside from increasing the service area of BHIP 1, the improvement of Malinao Dam will also trigger the establishment of BHIP 3 in the northeastern basin of the province. Along with the P1.4-billion Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project Phase 3 (BCRIP 3), the improvement of Malinao Dam, estimated to cost P800,000 are now proposed for funding by EDCF by the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (ICC) Technical Board as directed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the May 12 Cabinet meeting in Cebu, said the governor. He also requested the President to include in her talking points with Korean President Lee Myung-Bak. Aumentado is part of the Presidential delegation that will visit Korea for the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. For the celebration, Bohol will set up a tourism promotions booth at the Philippine pavilion of the exposition on May 30 and 31 to be set up at the plaza in front of the Seoul City Hall . Aumentado had received an invitation with an appeal to help make the exhibits successful from Philippine Ambassador to Korea Luis Cruz.