ENDERUN Colleges has inked ties with the Philippine Saemaul Undong (PSMU) in Iloilo to localize a classic community-driven rural development program responsible of South Korea’s rapid economic growth.
The private academic institution partnered with the Iloilo-based non-government organization during their recent symposium and inauguration ceremony of the Department of Saemaul Studies and Economic Development (DSSED) in Taguig City.
Established in partnership with Yeungnam University, DSSED delivers leadership programs in international development management and community-based entrepreneurship using Saemaul Undong as model.
Saemaul Undong, a movement for a better life founded by late President Park Chung Hee in 1970s, aims to develop villages through income generation, improvement of living environment and basic village infrastructure, capacity development and attitude change.
Based on their Memorandum of Understanding, the Enderun and PSMU will collaborate on learning and capacity development activities, student internship and technical studies.
Enderun president Dr. Edgardo Rodriguez is proposing the same ties with Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., following his recent pronouncement to make Saemaul Undong a guiding model in developing rural areas in Iloilo.
PSMU president Mario Nillos hoped to strengthen and intensify the organization’s strategies in selling the concept of Saemaul Undong to Ilonggos.
PSMU earlier proposed to inculcate the core values of Saemaul Undong among the target beneficiaries of Iloilo’s programs on agricultural development, rural water system and sanitation, local economic development and community-based ecotourism.
PSMU was only organized in 2014, 24 years after Saemaul Undong was first introduced by Presbyterian missionary Dr. Chung C. Young in Bingawan town. (PIO)