5 July 2008 – Philippine Ambassador to Seoul Luis T. Cruz reported to the Department that, in a show of solidarity with residents of Taean City which was affected by South Korea’s worst-ever oil spill in December 2007, Embassy personnel participated in an 8-km marathon/walkathon at the Chungpodae Beach with approximately 30,000 local residents to celebrate the successful completion of the clean-up operation.

The event, which featured other cultural events such as traditional fishing and a local concert, is also part of the Embassy’s Gender and Development Program aimed at enhancing the welfare of personnel and their family members. Thirty-two participants from the Embassy and attached agencies took part in the celebration.

“This opportunity allowed us not only to show support for the residents of Taean and reaffirm a much-needed focus on environmental care and protection, but also provided all of us in the Embassy a fun venue for bonding and relaxation,” said Amb. Cruz, who finished the 8-km course in 1 hour and 40 minutes. The event was organized by the local government in cooperation with the Honorary Consul of Seychelles, who himself is a resident of Taean. Honorary Consul Jeong-dong Chang lauded the Philippine Embassy for being the most active among participants from the diplomatic crops.

Earlier this year, the Philippine Embassy also took part in helping clean up the oil spill, which resulted when a barge accidentally slammed into a tanker. South Korea’s Bureau of Immigration initiated a program in February for foreign spouses of Korean nationals interested in helping remove the oil debris. Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr. represented the Embassy.

The incident leaked around 78,920 barrels of oil into the coastal waters, seriously damaging the local ecosystem and adversely affecting the livelihood of residents in the area.

Amb. Cruz stresses the need to take care of the environment. “Unfortunately, our resources are finite. We therefore need to balance progress with environmental protection in order to ensure the sustainability of our provinces and nations,” he said.