The Korean envoy to the Philippines is now “a baby Boholano.” Thus Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung acknowledged his “new sisters and brothers” after Gov. Erico Aumentado conferred on him the title of “adopted son of Bohol” – the first ambassador to become one – in rites Friday at the Bohol Cultural Center in Tagbilaran City. The adoption is contained in Aumentado's Executive Order No. 27 signed on December 18 that recognizes the help Choi has extended to the province to advance its marine and upland agriculture through the environment-friendly use of natural resources. South Korea has developed the multi-industry cluster (MIC) concept that is Choi's brainchild. The concept groups several related industries into one, or at least next to each other, to cut down on operational costs, travel time and fuel, among others. Korea has since adopted Choi's idea and even took it another step farther by strongly advocating for the establishment of one in the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Talibon town. The MIC would include an algae research center worth US$2.9 million and bio-ethanol extraction facility that can also generate biomass power from algae as well as organic fertilizer from the residue requiring an investment of about US$150 million.

Another cluster includes the upgrading of the Malinao Dam for P800 million and the establishment of a P315-million modern rice processing complex (RPC), both in Pilar town. The former raises the dam height by two meters to double its water storage capacity from five million to 10 million cubic meters to irrigate an additional 2,700 hectares of rice land. On the other hand, the RPC has storage, drying and milling facilities for hybrid rice and a specialized one for the Japonica variety – the top draw for Korean, Japanese and Chinese cooking and in demand for such restaurants. Aumentado also recognized Choi for backing the P1.4-billion Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project Phase 3 (BCRIP 3) and the US$3 million feasibility study for the Bohol-Cebu Multi-Access Friendship Bridge. A major funder for the projects is the Korea Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) through its Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) window, with the feasibility studies or implementation carried out by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica).

In the Philippines , the EDCF country director is Man Hwan Park while the Koica resident representative is Kim In. Both came to Bohol for the occasion, together with the ambassador‘s wife and son, as well as Ho Jeh Lee representing Dr. Gyungsoo Kim of Algahol Philippines Corp. that is already propagating the Eucheuma cottonnii variety of seaweeds in Talibon. Kim In-Sook of the Korean Economic Daily heralded the event. Choi gave significant contributions to accelerate Bohol 's economic development, and strengthened the bilateral diplomatic relations of the two countries through these efforts, the Aumentado order said. The ambassador has particularly strongly advocated for the use of renewable energy through the Green Strategy, and the symbiotic development of the two countries: Korea with its high technology and financial resources to help develop the rich natural resources of Bohol in particular, and the Philippines in general for their mutual economic well-being. Aumentado chronicled Choi's deeds in a plaque that, assisted by Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera and some Provincial Board members, he presented to the envoy together with a copy of the executive order.

Choi's response

As adopted son, Choi vowed “to bring Bohol on the right road of economic development, aiming for ‘Clean Advanced Bohol'”. With Bohol 's and Korea 's agreement on building the MIC with seaweed agriculture and seaweed ethanol business as main pillars, he said, “The journey has begun.” But with both feet planted firmly on the ground, he said the journey will be a long one – requiring patience, wisdom, cooperation and trust, not to mention the huge amount of capital injection from outside Bohol . Apparently seeing a problem but proposing a solution at the same time, Choi said to attract overseas capital, public or private, all kinds of deterrents imaginable such as “slow-moving documentation process and ping-pong between local and central government should be removed or upgraded.” He will stand on the frontline of the campaign to achieve model-case MIC in Bohol , he said.