Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez hands over a token of appreciation to new South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa during a courtesy call at Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City Wednesday afternoon.
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday personally expressed his condolences and message of sympathy to the people of South Korea through their Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa during the latter’s courtesy call at the Manila Golf Club in Makati City.
“I know that recently there was a flash flood in south korea and I know there are a number of casualties. So, we’d like to condole with the people of South Korea who suffered these losses, these casualties,” Speaker Romualdez told Ambassador Lee.
He noted that South Korea is among the first countries to send aid and rescuers to the Philippines when Super Typhoon Yolanda struck the province of Leyte and nearby areas, causing massive destruction and resulting in the death of thousands of people.
Romualdez pointed out that while South Korea and the Philippines are different in many ways, they are similarly vulnerable to the threats posed by nature, particularly with the effects of climate change.
“We go through these all the time,” said Romualdez, noting that as the surging floods forced many South Koreans to evacuate there are also many Filipinos who are forced to abandon their homes because of the continuing activity of Mt. Mayon volcano.
“I know now that in the Central City of Cheongju in South Korea that there have been torrential rains and flash floods. So again, we condole with the Korean people for the loss of lives, for the injuries, and of course to the evacuees,” the Speaker said.
Ambassador Lee expressed his gratitude to Speaker Romualdez, saying his expression of solidarity and sympathy with the people of South Korea “means a lot.”
“I highly appreciate your words of condolences and sympathy and solidarity,” Ambassador Lee told Romualdez, noting that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. had also expressed his condolences to the people of South Korea.
Reports said that at least 40 people have died, 34 others are injured and more than 10,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes since July 9, when heavy rain started pounding South Korea, with the severest damage seen in the country’s central and southern regions.
The reports noted that hundreds of rescue workers, including divers, searched for survivors in a muddy tunnel in the central city of Cheongju where about 15 vehicles, including a bus, were trapped in a flash flood.
During their meeting, the two also discussed ways to bolster the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries and various areas for cooperation and trade.
Also part of the discussions during the courtesy call was the visit to the Philippines next week of the Speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly, Kim Jin-pyo. Speaker Kim hosted a dinner for Romualdez and the delegation of the Philippine House of Representatives during their official visit to South Korea for the ASEAN-Korea Leaders’ Forum on the occasion of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity from 31 May-4 June 2023.
