MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday enjoined Filipino workers in Laos to continue being ambassadors of goodwill.
Ahead of the opening of the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in Vientiane, Laos, President Marcos took the opportunity to engage with the Filipino community there.
In his message, President Marcos said he was pleased with how Filipinos strengthened people-to-people relations in Laos.
“Ikinatutuwa ko rin ang pagpapalakas ng people-to-people relations natin dito sa Laos,” the President said.
“Kaya naman, nais kong ipagpatuloy pa ninyo ang pagiging ambassadors of Filipino goodwill dito sa bansang Lao PDR,” he added.
Laos is home to an estimated 2,000 Filipinos mostly working as teachers, engineers, among other professionals and skilled workers.
President Marcos expressed his gratitude for their invaluable contributions in the growth of Laos and the Philippine economy.
“By exercising your professions in the professional and the expert way that you do, through your daily interactions with the locals, you have become valuable members of society. You make us all very, very proud!” he said.
The President further reiterated the government’s commitment in providing better domestic opportunities for Filipinos so they no longer need to leave the country for work.
“Ginagawa po namin ang lahat ng ito upang patuloy naming mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang bawat Pilipino. Nang sa gayon, ay hindi na kinakailangan ng sinuman na lumisan pa sa Pilipinas at makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa,” he said.
Around 400 overseas Filipino workers welcomed the President during his inaugural visit to Lao PDR. (PND)
