Eighteen (18) Korea Overseas Volunteers (KOV) is set
to be assigned in the Philippines to provide technical assistance in
different development activities. The
new batch of volunteers known as Batch 27 will work on various projects
implemented by their local partner organizations.
The volunteers who arrived last 10 September 2007 will undergo 6
weeks language and culture training.
The group will add to contributions of sixty-one (61) KOV
volunteers in the country as of August this year.
They are deployed in NRC, CAR, Regions I to VII, XI and XIII.
State Colleges and Universities hold the most number of KOV with
22, while NGAs with 9, LGUs with 10 volunteers in place.
The
KOV program implemented by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
aims at promoting friendship between Korea and developing host countries
through the dispatch of volunteers to participate in world-wide effort
to contribute to human betterment based on the spirit of "Share and
Respect." The skill
areas assisted by KOV are agriculture and fishery, education and
culture, vocational-technical training, computer, health, and sports.
The term of service of volunteers is two (2) years.
26
September 2007
go to top
Four (4) representatives
from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Head Office were
in the Philippines last September 5 to 9 to conduct an evaluation of the
Korea Overseas Volunteer (KOV) Program in the country. The mission is composed of Ms. Nam Soon Lee, Manager,
Overseas Volunteers Planning Team of KOICA, Mr. Jeong Wook Lee, Manager,
Evaluation Office of KOICA, Mr. Won Gyu Choi, Professor, Chonbuk
National University and Ms. Myoung Ok Kang, Lecturer from the Konkuk
University.
The mission, accompanied by Mr.
Jong Yong Park, Senior Administrative Officer of KOICA in the
Philippines, met with Executive Director Joselito C. De Vera and PNVSCA
staff Corazon Macaraig and Ela Sarmago last 6 September 2007 to discuss
the KOV Program specifically the current efforts and future thrusts of
KOV in providing volunteer assistance to the Philippines.
Among the major points discussed in
the meeting were the priority sectors and areas for foreign volunteer
assistance, the strengths and weaknesses of the KOV volunteers,
relationship with local partner organizations, volunteer management by
the KOICA Philippine Office and recommendations for program enhancement.
The KOICA team also expressed keen interest on the national
volunteering programs in the Philippines.
11
September 2007
go to top
Mr. Bekele Yemerou, Programme and
Operations Officer of the Asia/Pacific/Europe/CIS Section (APEC) of the
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) visited PNVSCA as part of a five-day
program of a UNV Mission in the Philippines. The mission team is
composed of Mr. Yemerou and Mr. Thuan Xuan Nguyen, Senior Programme
Specialist, also of UNV APEC.
In a meeting held at PNVSCA on
September 4, 2007, Mr. Yemerou and PNVSCA Executive Director Joselito C.
de Vera discussed the continuing partnership specifically the renewal of
the Memorandum of Agreement between UNV and PNVSCA, the thrusts of the
Philippine volunteer program and of UNV in the Philippines and possible
partnership projects and activities.
Mr. Yemerou emphasized that UNV is
interested in supporting programs for youth, disaster risk reduction
management and national volunteering.
In line with this, the UNV Mission also met with representatives
from the UN agencies in the Philippines as well as other local agencies
and organizations involved in the above sectoral concerns to promote
volunteerism in the planning and implementation of their projects and
activities.
11
September 2007
go to top
NEDA 35th ANNIVERSARY
The National Economic and Development Authority celebrated
its 35the anniversary with an aural and visual exhibit held at the NEDA
Lobby in NEDA sa Pasig, Pasig City.
With this year’s theme, “NEDA and Development Planning”,
the exhibit featured photographs and publications highlighting the
development planning process in the Philippines from NEDA’s creation
to the present and selected high-impact projects of the NEDA Regional
Offices. An audio-visual
presentation on The NEDA Story and KR2 projects prepared by NEDA
Development Information Staff were also shown.
The ceremony was attended by NEDAns and guests from NEDA attached
agencies.
27
September 2007
go to top
The Japan Overseas Cooperation
Volunteers (JOCV), welcomes two incoming Program Coordinators Mr.
Kinemuchi Masaki, and Ms. Tanaka Chiho.
The new coordinators will replace Ms. Yumi Balce and Mr. Masahiro
Abe whose contracts finished this year.
Mr. Masaki, 44, who hailed from
Niigata-Ken, is a Bachelor of Applied Physics graduate at the Okayama
University. He served
as a JOCV volunteer in Morocco from 1987 to 1991.
After working in Mitsui Mineral Development Engineering Co. Ltd.
from 1991 to 1997, he rejoined JOCV in 1997 and assumed various posts
until his posting in the Philippines.
Mr. Masaki also holds a license in Project Cycle Management
Method.
Ms. Tanaka, 38, is from Kanagawa,
Japan and is a B.S. Agricultural Chemistry graduate from the University
of Tsukuba. She was a
former JOCV volunteer in Vietnam from 1999 to 2002.
She became a JICA training staff from 2002–2004 and eventually
became a Volunteer Coordinator in JICA Palau Office from 2004 until
January 2007.
11
September 2007
go to top
