MABALACAT CITY — Mayor Crisostomo Garbo has returned from a two-day business trip to Seoul and Heongseong province in South Korea on October 3 and 4, which he described as “successful”.
There, Garbo met with Korean business leaders and chief executives for a cooperative relationship with Mabalacat City.
Over the past years, Mayor Garbo, through the city government, has been pushing for international employment and educational opportunities for Mabalaquenians in the hopes to bring a better life for their families.
Heongseong province Governor Yeoung Lock Lee welcomed Garbo on the first day of his visit and signed a memorandum of agreement for foreign seasonal workers (FSW) for the year 2023. The MOA, Garbo said, is similar to the Yeongju City FSW agricultural program wherein the first batch of Mabalaquenian farm workers shall leave for Korea also this month.
With aspirations to pursue international immersions for the brightest students of the Mabalacat City College, as well as plans to conduct product manufacturing fairs and investment opportunities in Clark Freeport Zone, the mayor also said he was able to seal better opportunities for the Mabalaquenians.
“All of these projects and programs are already in the preparation level. Marami tayong kababayan na mabibigyan ng trabaho. We just need to make sure that we also respect their laws and policies about foreign workers,” Garbo said. “Wala dapat mag illegal stay sa mga kababayan natin upang tuloy-tuloy ang mga programa at marami pang susunod na oportunidad.
MCC’s partner institution Songho University president Jung Chang Deok also toured the mayor to the e-mobility manufacturing plant S and J Technology. Garbo said the one-year training course will give opportunity to Mabalaquenian adult learners through upskill training and be taken on board by the company for employment.
As the visit coincided with the Heongsong local festival, the Mabalacat City delegates also experienced some cultural and culinary delights in the city. Garbo also attended a dinner hosted by MBC Broadcasting Entertainer Association president Choi Seung-Ho and other members for more exploratory talk and shared that the Korean chief executives they met with have been hospitable and friendly.
“Our values are similar albeit the difference in language kaya napakahalaga na tayo ay nakakapagbigay ng Korean Language mula sa ating lokal na kolehiyo. Isa ito sa mga napagkasunduan namin na serbisyong ibibigay ng syudad para sa mga manggagawa kasama na ang training, visa guide, at iba nilang pangangailangan.”
Garbo visited South Korea together with city accountant Oscar Deang and city legal officer Atty. Francis Dimaliwat. They were accompanied by Mabalacat City College professor and Korean International Relations officer Sunny Han.
