A ranking official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) took center stage as the plenary session speaker at the prestigious Korean Society of Civil Engineers (KSCE) 2023 Convention, Conference, and Civil Expo on Oct. 19.
The event, held at the Yeosu Expo Convention Center, in Yeosu, Korea, drew civil engineering experts and enthusiasts from around the world.
Senior Usec. Emil K. Sadain, overseeing DPWH's infrastructure flagship projects under the "Build Better More" initiative, shed light on the landscape of the Philippines' infrastructure.
His speech highlighted DPWH's major projects, which included roads, bridges, and flood control structures, with a special emphasis on many significant efforts funded by Korea Official Development Assistance (ODA).
"This convention provides an ideal platform to showcase some of our ongoing and upcoming flagship projects, many of which are made possible through ODA, signifying the deepening bilateral relations with the Republic of Korea," Sadain said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Sadain said his proposal for international cooperation and technical collaboration between KSCE and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) in 2024 was met with enthusiasm by 2023 KSCE President Jun-Haeng Heo and 2024 KSCE incoming President Choong-Ki Chung. This collaboration seeks to promote the exchange of information, ideas, networking, and the advancement of civil engineering globally through various activities such as workshops, meetings, and conferences.
Accompanying the Philippine delegation at the KSCE 2023 Convention were UPMO Project Directors Benjamin A. Bautista and Ramon A. Arriola III, former Project Director Virgilio C. Castillo, and PICE - Korea Chapter President, Engr. Jebie Balagosa.
In this year's convention, KSCE encouraged all civil engineers from various sectors and countries to come together, to participate from October 18 to 20, 2023, and to start a new chapter of discussion under the slogan "KSCE for the Future."
The DPWH stated that among the flagship projects of the agency supported by the Korean government are the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project (SPCR) in Northern Samar, which was inaugurated by President Marcos and DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan last July 13, 2023; the 3.17-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge Project (PBBP) that will connect the City of Tangub in Misamis Occidental to the Municipality of Tubod in Lanao del Norte targetted to open to vehicular traffic by first half of 2024; and the Pampanga Integrated Disaster Risk and Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (IDRR CCA).