Korea aid agency earmarks $10 M for Iloilo port rehab

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has earmarked $10 million for the rehabilitation of three major ports in northern Iloilo that were destroyed by Super Typhoon Yolanda last November.

In a statement, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said the project will commence soon as KOICA will be sending a team of experts to inspect and validate the proposed development for the ports of Concepcion, Carles and Estancia towns.

Defensor said the KOICA team will arrive in two weeks to look at the damaged infrastructure and facilities of the three ports.

“After their assessment, an agreement will be forged between us,” he said, adding that the construction will start once all the administrative requirements are fulfilled.

“Just like us, KOICA is also in a hurry to implement the project. That is the reason why we are doing our best to hasten everything,” he said.

The construction of three ports is expected to start by October.

Earlier, KOICA senior deputy resident representative Youngram Kim said they appropriated $20 million in humanitarian aid to help the country recover from Yolanda’s devastation.

As it is, half of the aid would be used to revitalize Iloilo’s fishing industry through the Northern Iloilo Comprehensive Fishery Rehabilitation and Development project.

Last June 13, the Korea Saemaul Undong Center turned over new houses to 61 families displaced by Yolanda in Barangays Alabidhan and Maganhop in Bingawan town, and Barangays Moto and Bundulan in San Dionisio town.

Provincial Planning and Development Office chief Mario Nillos, who also sits as president of Philippine Saemaul Undong, cited the numerous help extended by the Korean government to Iloilo province such as the P200-million modern rice processing complex in Pototan town and the upgrading of the three district hospitals.