Government at work

“We do not seek special treatment or privileges for our workers, but we do expect respect for their dignity and basic human rights. Keep them free from harm. I implore you.” – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

This past week, we, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Philippine embassy in Kuwait, witnessed the repatriation of the last batch of distressed overseas Filipino workers or OFWs from Kuwait.

Each of them has a story to tell, but if there is one thing they all share, it is their struggle in working on foreign soil. This entails the need to endure not only the harsh reality of working away from their loved ones but also in keeping up with their employers. These hardships have finally come to an end, when President Rodrigo Duterte, or Tatay Digong, called upon different government agencies to bring them home.

According to the DFA, we were able to repatriate a total of 5,066 OFWs since the beginning of the amnesty program last Jan. 29. However, thousands of Filipinos are still in Kuwait due to ongoing cases, but the government assures them that they will continue to be assisted in order for them to return to the Philippines.

The repatriation did not come without consistent backlash from different individuals and groups who disagreed with the President’s intentions to bring these OFWs home, but what they failed to see is that PRRD cares deeply for the unity of the Filipino family. He recognizes that the family is the core unit of Filipino society, and he hailed it as his top priority and primary reason in returning them to their loved ones – something only a true father can see.

It is also apparent that different government agencies worked together to streamline the amnesty program and eventual repatriation of these OFWs. They not only cooperated to bring these workers home, but have also prepared in providing post-repatriation assistance in the form of financial and livelihood aid so that these workers are able to get back on their feet at the soonest time possible.

Synergized efforts between different government agencies are not often seen in the previous administrations, but under PRRD’s leadership, they made it a point to work together to achieve the goal of upholding and protecting the welfare of these OFWs in Kuwait. This only means that there are significant developments within the Philippine bureaucracy, and this can be attributed to the high level of confidence of these agencies to the PRRD administration. It also tells us there is hope to foster good governance in the country, and it can be achieved by means of mutual trust between agencies and the people who manage them, as well as the trust in the leadership of President Duterte.

Aside from bringing back home thousands of distressed OFWs, we were also able to convey a clear message, not only to Kuwait, but to all other countries our fellowmen have chosen to work in: that our government will not merely sit idly when Filipinos working abroad are not being treated fairly. Tatay Digong himself said that Filipinos are no slaves to anyone, in any place.

With the entire world now well aware of the government’s firm stand and tough action in protecting our countrymen, I am certain that this could affect the way other countries treat Filipino workers.

I would like to leave a brief message to all Filipino migrant workers: you are not alone, and you are never forgotten. The government, now fueled with the strength of the Duterte administration, is here for you. We are here, under the leadership of Tatay Digong, to serve you to the best of our abilities.