BY JOEL P. MAPILES
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The provincial government led by Governor Lilia Pineda lauded the Jongha Ahn, president and inspector general of Human Resource Department of South Korea for his assistance in facilitating the placement of 6,889 Kapampangan overseas skilled workers.
In Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 3407, the provincial board members state that Pampanga recognizes the ‘whole-hearted’ assistance of Jongha for helping the overseas contract skilled workers obtain gainful employment in South Korea that improves ‘tremendously’ their quality of life.
The resolution was given to Jongha yesterday by Governor Pineda and Provincial Board Members Jerome Tubig, Rosve Henson, Crisostomo Garbo, Salvador Dimson, Cherry Manalo and Ricardo Yabut and the departments heads led by Atty. Andres Pangilinan, Jr., provincial administrator.
“These Kapampangan overseas skilled workers have successfully passed the Employment Permit System –Korea Language Proficiency Test (EPS-KLT) examination and are now in overseas employment in South Korea,” Henson said.
The HRD Korea inspector general also commended the sincerity and hard work shown by the 6,899 Kapampangans who are working as OFWs in his country.
It can be recalled that a memorandum of understanding entered into by and between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Ministry of Labor of South Korea accorded interested Filipino skilled contract workers opportunity to seek overseas employment in South Korea through the electronic recruitment system under the EPS-KLT.
Joy Sanchez, director of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration disclosed that Pampanga ranked number one in EPS-KLT examination.
“Pampanga is a role model in sending OFWs in South Korea as the provincial government is giving 100 percent support to the Kapampangans who want to work in the said country,” Sanchez said.
Governor Pineda said she is planning to go to South Korea to visit the Kapampangan overseas workers and look for their working condition in South Korea.
“We want to visit the Kapampangan workers in Korea and I heard that if they have already worked for five years, they could renew their contract for another five years. That’s a good news”, the governor said.
Jongha said they were very impressed with the intention of the governor to visit the Kapampangan workers in South Korea.
“That is a show of love and concern to your Kapampangan overseas workers,” Jongha told the governor.
The governor informed of the HRD of Korea that they are also supporting the 20,000 Koreans living in the province particularly in Angeles City.
Jongha said they are also very thankful to the Philippine government as the Koreans living in the country have a very good working relationship and partnership with their Filipino counterpart.
“Our Korean fellows here have already adapted your culture and they now love to stay here for good,” Jongha added.
