Philippine Army
Engineers and Republic of Korea Armed Forces completes rehabilitation
of Naga-Naga Elementary School in Leyte
By DPAO, 8ID PA
May 10, 2014
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan
City, Samar – Joint effort of the Philippine Army Engineers and
Republic of Korea Armed Forces led to another successful completion of
the rehabilitation of the Naga-Naga Elementary in Palo, Leyte. The
school suffered much damage during the onslaught of ST Yolanda which
left most of its school buildings and classrooms inoperable.
No less than the commander
of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army attended the completion
celebration of the rehabilitated school facilities Naga-Naga
Elementary at Barangay Naga-Naga, Palo Leyte on May 9, 2014 along with
Hon. Remedios Petilla, Mayor of Palo Leyte and Ms. Divina M. Monhe,
Ph.D. Principal of Naga-Naga Elementary School.
Also present during the
celebration were the troops under South Korean Joint Support Group
Philippines (SK-JSGP) military contingent led by Col. Lee Chul-won and
troops under Philippine Army Engineer units led by Maj. Danny Rey
Montemayor. The combine troops of SK-JSGP and Philippine Army
Engineers were instrumental in the repair and rehabilitation of the
school facilities. It was the 8th school rehabilitated and there are
still 10 schools currently undergoing repair and rehabilitation works.
Various performances on
dancing skills were presented by the South Korean troops, Philippine
Army Engineers, PNP personnel and students from different elementary
schools of Palo Leyte. The performances were highlighted by the
surprise appearance of RAINBOW, a popular South Korean girl K-Pop
group. The performance of the K-Pop group mesmerized the crowd
especially the South Korean troops and egged the group for more songs.
The K-Pop group obliged and ended up performing three songs to the
delight of the crowd.
Meanwhile, the first batch
of students of the heavy equipment seminar initiated by the SK-JSGP
graduated last May 9, 2014. The graduation was graced by Hon. Leopoldo
Dominico Petilla, Governor of Leyte and Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino AFP.
From March 31, 2014, the students underwent a series of heavy
equipment operation training for crane, excavator, pay-loader,
bulldozer, and buck hoe. The training of the 39 heavy equipment
operation students was accredited by TESDA.
In his message, Maj. Gen.
Velarmino AFP lauded the endeavors of the SK-JSGP. He said, “I would
like to express my deepest admiration and high regard to our comrades
from the Republic of Korea Support Group Philippines "Araw
contingents" whose love and passion for our fellow Filipinos brought
new hope for the country. Your sweat and sacrifices might not be
enough to bring back the lives lost in the super typhoon, but your
sweat is more than enough to keep us going with our lives and your
effort will forever be etched in our hearts and minds.”