ANGELES CITY – A donation package worth P1.6 million was handed by Widus Foundation, Inc. (WFI) to the city police during a formal turnover on Wednesday to enhance the safety and security of the Korean community here.
“The opening of the tourist police office will give a semblance of security in the area, so it’s going to create a big impact,” said Chief Supt. Elmer Cruz Bantog of the Central Luzon Police Regional Office.
“The Central Luzon Police Office is thankful to the Korean community in the city who help in maintaining the peace and order as we acknowledged their help and coordination with us,” he said.
“This is perhaps the real PPP (public-private partnership) participation in our thrust to maintain peace and order in the city and especially in the Korean town with the partnership of Widus and the Korean community to the city government,” Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said.
Among those present in the turnover cere- mony at the Sigol Baboy Samgyeopsal along the Clark Circumferen- tial Road in Barangay Anunas here were Kim Ki Young, president of the 25,000 strong Korean Community Association – Central Luzon Inc. (KCA-CLI) as well as Korean diplomat Kim Jae Won, director general of the Korean Foreign Affairs; Lee Jee Hun, Inter- pol NBC Seoul chief of inspector; and Mrs. Kon Jun Ha, consul of the Korean embassy.
The donation consists of a 20-footer con- tainer van that was outfitted into the Tourism Protection Unit (TPU) manned by 13 policemen in three shifts 24/7 and a brand-new Toyota Innova police car.
“We are happy and we expect more assistance coming from businessmen and investors,” said the mayor.
For his part, Kim said the donation is a big help for the 25,000 Korean people staying in the city as he noted that 60 percent of crimes involving Koreans in the Philippines happen in the city.
“I am convinced that with a new police station, the city of Angeles will now be removed from the stigma of a criminal city and be born again as the most vibrant city in the Philippines,” said Kim in his statement.
Neki Liwanag, Widus executive director, said Widus is “working with the Korean community association for this project. Actually, they brought this to us to enhance the tourism safety in the Korean town and since one of Widus Foundation’s thrust is to improve and promote the Filipino-Korean culture, we saw the need for this one that is why we gladly donating it.”
Liwanag said WFI will also renovate the old police station located near the Friendship Gate of the nearby Clark Freeport Zone.
