OFW MEET IN JAPAN – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. waves to thousands of overseas Filipino workers in Tokyo, Japan, during the meeting with the Filipino community on Sunday shortly before his flight back to the Philippines after a successful five-day official visit. Among those who accompanied the President during the event were (from left) Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, former President-turned-Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri. Photo by VER NOVENO
PBBM thanks Japan OFWs
For contributing to economic growth, promoting PH
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday expressed gratitude to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Japan for their significant contributions to the growth of the economy through remittances.
He also praised them for promoting the Philippines through their kindness and diligence.
“Napakalaking bagay na ang remittance ng mga OFW sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Sa panahon ng kahirapan, ang inaasahan ay ‘yung mga remittance ninyo,” he said in a speech during his meeting with the Filipino community at Belle Salle Tokyo Nihonbashi conference center in Chuo City.
“’Yung sakripisyo po ninyo na pagta-trabaho sa abroad ay hindi lamang sa ikabubuti ng inyong pamilya, kung hindi sa buong bansa,” he added.
Marcos reassured OFWs that the government is boosting the quality of jobs so that time will come when Filipinos would no longer have to go abroad out of necessity.
“Ang aking pangarap talaga ay masabi na natin na sapat ang trabaho sa Pilipinas. Pagka isang Pilipino ay nag-abroad para magtrabaho, ito ay dahil pinili niya pumunta sa abroad, hindi napilitan pumunta sa abroad,” he said.
Marcos said he wants Filipinos to have good jobs at home that will secure their future.
His official trip to Japan aims to bring home investment pledges and agreements that would help spur post-pandemic economic growth, the President said.
“Isang bagay na napaka importante hindi lamang ‘yung mga agreement na ginagawa namin, kung hindi ipaalala natin sa lahat na isipin nila ang Pilipinas. Kapag nag-iisip sila, ‘saan tayo maglalagay ng negosyo?’ Dati hindi tayo iniisip. Ngayon, dahil pinupuntahan natin sila, alam na nila…kasama na ngayon diyan ang Pilipinas,” he said.
He also assured that the government, through its embassies and the Department of Migrant Workers, will provide all OFWs with much-needed assistance.
“Kami naman ay magbibigay ng tulong upang makabangon ulit ang ating mga kababayan, ang ating mga trabahador,” he said.
“Alam naming kayo’y maasahan namin bilang hindi lamang magagaling na nagta-trabaho kundi magaling na ambassador ng Pilipinas. Ipagpatuloy po ninyo at kami naman po sa pamahalaan ay nandito upang magsuporta, upang tumulong…‘Yan po ang aming pagbawi sa inyong napakaganda at napaka-init na salubong ngayong araw na ito,” he said.
Filipinos working in Japan have contributed around USD1.49 billion in remittances last year, according to Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano.
Based on government data, there are around 290,000 Filipinos living in Japan. Philippine News Agency
