By Helen Castaño | 10:55 PM September 25, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY — Catigbian Mayor Benjie Oliva is set to join an international academic and local governance colloquium in South Korea next month, where Philippine and Korean officials and academics are expected to exchange ideas on local administration, economic development, tourism and international cooperation.
Oliva is among the Philippine delegates invited to the 2026 Academic Colloquium in Korea – Master of Management Autumn Program, scheduled from Oct. 25 to 31.
The weeklong program is organized by the History NGO Forum for Peace in East Asia in partnership with the Master of Management Program of the University of the Philippines Manila, the Asiatic Research Institute of Korea University and other South Korean institutions.
As part of the program, the delegation is expected to visit Seoul City Hall and Boryeong City, providing opportunities for participants to discuss local governance and regional development with Korean government officials and community leaders.
The itinerary also includes a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and a memorial dedicated to Filipino soldiers who served during the Korean War.
For Catigbian, Oliva’s participation is expected to open opportunities for exchanges with South Korean local governments, particularly in areas such as governance, tourism and international cooperation.
The organizers said the Korean host organization would assist the Philippine delegation with accommodations, local transportation, institutional visits and visa processing.
The invitation was signed by Sungho Kang, president and head of international cooperation, and Daesoo Lee, standing president of the History NGO Forum for Peace in East Asia.
