President on Middle East visit: ‘Most productive trip ever’

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte returned to the country on Monday from what he qualified as his “most productive trip ever” in the Middle East.

Mr. Duterte, who went on state visits to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar during the Christian Holy Week, brought home business-tobusiness deals worth $925 million as well as government-to-government agreements to strengthen the Philippines’ ties with the Gulf States.

But in his arrival speech in Manila, the President declined to disclose some “issues” discussed during his meeting with his counterparts in the Middle East due to “protocols.”

He also mentioned in passing a “defense and security arrangement” that he “promised” to leaders of the Gulf region for hosting thousands of Filipino expats. Mr. Duterte did not elaborate.

“Sabi ko, tutulong ako sa inyo bilang pagbayad sa anong ginawa ninyo sa kababayan ko. Magpapakamatay kami sa inyo (I said, I will help you as payment for your help to our countrymen. We’ll kill ourselves for you),” Mr. Duterte said.

Mr. Duterte recently said he is willing to deploy “one battalion, one regiment, one division” of Filipino soldiers in the Middle East to “protect” the region from threats like terrorism.

The Middle East remains the country’s second largest source of remittances from overseas Filipinos, accounting for 28% of the total or almost $7.6 billion in 2016.

Data from the Energy department show that the region was the Philippines’ source of 87% of crude oil, with 36.1 % from Saudi Arabia, the country’s top supplier.

The Middle East also hosts more than one million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), although labor issues rank high on the list of Philippine concerns.

OFWS REPATRIATED

Aside from business and government deals, Mr. Duterte also brought with him some 138 “runaway” OFWs (from the earlier reported 150) granted amnesty by the Saudi government.

The “runaway” Filipino expats are those undocumented who fell victim to illegal recruitment.

“I am thankful that you are home safely. You can now be with your family and loved ones. We know your hard work and sacrifice. I have directed relevant government agencies to assist you as you turn a new chapter of your life,” Mr. Duterte said.

The 138 OFWs were composed of 63 women, 55 men, and 20 children. Some were held for only a few months, others, up to three years.

In his arrival speech, Mr. Duterte assured the repatriated OFWs of aid, among these, a mentorship program on starting a business and financial assistance amounting to P10,000.

Saudi Arabia is home to more than 7,000 Filipino migrant workers. In the Kingdom’s capital of Riyadh alone, 21 Filipinos are facing various immigration problems while a total of 31 OFWs are on death row in the predominantly Muslim country.

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 migrant Filipino workers are in Qatar — three of them sentenced to life imprisonment for espionage.

Before flying to the Middle East, Mr. Duterte said he would bring home with him some distressed Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia, particularly those already given “clearance” by the Saudi government.

In his visit, labor agreements for OFWs were signed, including those on proper labor standards, better wages, protection from maltreatment, and fixed working hours, among other concerns.