Kapakanan ng OFWs sa Middle East pakay ni Digong (Sa 6-araw state visit)

IHIHIRIT ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa mga pinuno ng Saudi Arabia, Bahrain at Qatar ang kapakanan at dignidad ng overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sa kanyang state visit sa 10-16 Abril 2017.

“He will discuss with these leaders matters relevant to the welfare and dignity of the Filipinos living in their countries as well as explore avenues for economic and political cooperation,” sabi ni Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana ng Office of Middle East and African Affairs.

May 32 aniya ang OFWs sa death row, 31 sa Saudi Arabia, at isa sa Bahrain at pinag-aaralan ng Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Worker Affairs kung sino ang puwede nang ihirit na gawaran ng clemency at pardon.

Umaasa aniya si Pangulong Duterte na ang pagbisita niya sa Gitnang Silangan ay magdudulot ng mas magandang relasyon upang makalikha ng trabaho sa mga Pinoy ang US$500-B pinagsamang capital ng Saudi Arabia, Bahrain at Qatar na ilalagak sa bansa.

“In terms of economic cooperation, the President will explore partnerships in tourism development, halal food security, Islamic finance and energy security, as well as investments. He will invite these countries to invest particularly in Mindanao as a way of lifting Mindanao out of both poverty and conflict,” aniya.

“On political cooperation, the President is keen on seeking partnerships in security, countering terrorism, and combating illicit drugs,” dagdag niya.

Magiging tampok sa state visit ni Duterte ang pakikipagkita sa Filipino community sa Saudi Arabia na may 760,000 Filipino, sa  Bahrain na may 60,000 Filipinos, at Qatar na may 250,000 Pinoy, gaya ng mga pagbisita niya sa ibang bansa mula noong 2016. (ROSE NOVENARIO)