Duterte bares creation of OFW department

Date Posted: 04/16/2017

A crowd of about 4,000 OFWs at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Bahrain became ecstatic as President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he would soon set up a department that would focus solely on the affairs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“In a few months, you will have a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers,” he said.

The President promised them that the separate OFW department underway will reduce the time to process workers’ papers from six weeks to three weeks.

The said department would also help stamp out fly-by-night recruitment agencies, he added.

The President likewise promised the OFWs that his six-year administration would be free from corruption, oppression and abusive officials, saying that he wants to solve the problem of corruption in the country to encourage OFWs to return home.

“Ang OFW kasi, alam ko gusto ninyong mahinto na talaga ‘yung corruption para aangat ang bayan natin,” he said.

He said OFWs can also help reform the country by being assertive and by shunning all acts of corruption, particularly at the immigration and customs bureaus.

President Duterte meanwhile expressed his gratitude to the progressive Kingdom of Bahrain for welcoming Filipino workers into their country.

“Bahrain has been good to you. I have talked to all officials, including His Majesty the King, and they only have nice words for you. They said they have no complaint about you, that you are kind and patient,” he said.

“That is why I said, we are here and I gave to the government and to the King my promise and commitment that we will stand by and protect the State of Bahrain.”

The President received a very warm reception from members of the royal family, especially from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
President Duterte also had an opportunity to meet His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain, who led the send-off party for the visiting head of state.

Published Date: April 16, 2017
Source: The Filipino Times