But the best thing about the trip was that Albay’s interest became the heart of the mission. Incheon is set to get at least 20,000 skilled workers from Albay, on a direct hire basis, especially on skills related to hotel and restaurant industry, building maintenance and the like.

Responding fastly, upon her arrival, Mayor Bem made sure the TESDA scholarships the LGU got were immediately availed. 60 Professional Drivers and 40 welders, 10 commercial cooks and 20 housekkepers. On a blitz krieg, she organized a team who looked for these youth, who will get into the scholarships. PG Scholarships provided P60 per day allowance and she asked the barangay to give P40, to make it P100 per day. For those taking them outside of SIKAP, she made sure P500 boarding house assistance per month for the duration of the course, would be possible, with the LGU co-sharing the cost.

 She is confident, that when these scholars hurdle their Assessment Exams, they will pass and get their National Certificates and will make possible a job, here and abroad, particularly Incheon.

 TRIVIA about the trip: The Albay Team also visited Seoul City which was about 2.5 hours from Incheon City. And every mayor got a specific Korean aide who made sure they attend the sessions, they were comfortable and will not get lost in the city, considering that there were not much English translation in the signboards. There was not much time to shop, but Incheon City airport was itself a shopping mall, so they used their waiting time to buy some pasalubong for staff back home!

  But the best part of it, was experiencing an international conference for the first time and bonding with the Governor!