Korean C-130s fly three Leyte sorties daily

The 40-person Korean contingent came on board three C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft that were also laden with relief goods.

They left for Tacloban City yesterday along with a 40-man medical contingent from Stanford University in the US.

The three Korean C 130s will be running daily sorties from the Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City to the Daniel Romualdez International Airport in Tacloban City, carrying up to nine tons of relief goods as well as civilians who want to visit their relatives and local relief workers.

Major Lee Bong Seob of the Korean Air Force said their daily mercy flights would leave Cebu at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

From Tacloban, the mercy flights will ferry survivors who want to get out of the devastation left by Yolanda and relief workers who have ended their tour of duties.

Serving in the humanitarian mission is not the only thing that excites the 35-year-old Major Seob.
He told Cebu Daily News that he had always wanted come here in Cebu with his family as tourists.
“It’s my first time in Cebu and I really want to visit the tourist spots here,” he told CDN.
He said he has heard a lot of good things about Cebu from his friends who have been in the province.

Popular destination

“I want to visit resorts and beaches in Mactan Island. It’s a popular wedding and honeymoon destination among Koreans,” he said.

Although it’s his first time in Cebu, Lee has visited Manila ten times.
He has also spoken before cadets of the Philippine Air Force Academy.

“It’ s my first time in Cebu but I saw it’s similar to Manila. The seaside, the buildings and the same very kind people,” he said.

After serving the humanitarian mission here, Seob said he will bring his family to Cebu for a vacation./Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita