Iloilo: Twenty-four students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) arrived in Iloilo on Tuesday for a two-week Youth Expedition Project (YEP) to build a water system and wash area at an elementary school in Barangay Layog, Maasin town.

According to Philippines News Agency, the students raised funds and will assist in constructing the project alongside the community. The YEP was first launched in Concepcion, Iloilo, 20 years ago during Banias' tenure as mayor. It began through partnerships with Singapore Polytechnic and later Singapore Management University, before being paused due to the pandemic.

"This is the first time the National University of Singapore has sent 24 students. I hope this will be a start, and they will keep coming back because of their good immersion and experience in Iloilo," Banias said.

The group, mostly engineering students, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., who expressed support for continued academic and cultural exchange between Iloilo and Singapore. Other than the community immersion, the students will also have a chance to visit various universities in Iloilo City to see the education system and possibly establish a relationship with local higher learning institutions.