MANILA -- The Philippine government has intensified its collaboration with Czech Republic through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to protect rights and ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the central European country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos said.
“Inimbitahan ko ang ating mga kaibigang Tseko na lalong pagtibayin ang kanilang sistema para na protektahan ang karapatan at kapakanan ng ating mga OFWs at iba pang foreign workers dito sa bansa, sa pamamagitan ng pagtaguyod ng pormal na kasunduan sa labor,” President Marcos said during a meeting with the Filipino community in Prague before departing to Manila late Friday.
“Inatasan ko ang ating Department of Migrant Workers na paigtingin ang pakikipag-usap sa kanila at sa mga kanilang katapat sa Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs upang masiguro ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga Filipino nationals at ating mga Filipino workers,” he said.
President Marcos announced the successful signing of the Joint Communique on Labor Consultations Mechanism between the Philippines and the Czech Republic aimed at establishing a system to discuss areas of mutual interests, including proper procedure in employing Filipino citizens in the Central European country.
The Joint Communique will greatly favor Filipinos already working in the Czech Republic as well as those planning to enter its labor market, Marcos said.
The government, meanwhile, has been striving to improve the living conditions of its citizens under the administration’s Bagong Pilipinas campaign, with the aim of elevating the country to upper middle-income or high-income economy in 2025, the President added.
“This is my commitment: to provide our society with a principled, accountable, and dependable governance, to attain better future for all Filipinos,” President Marcos said.
“Ipinapangako po sa inyo na sisikapin pa natin na lalong pagandahin at palaguin ang ating ekonomiya dahil ito ay karapatan ng bawat Pilipino. At kayo, aking mga kababayan ay nagsisilbing inspirasyon. Kayo ang inspirasyon namin ng mga taga-gobyerno upang ipagpatuloy ang aming ginagawa, ang aming trabaho,” he said.
There are initial gains in the government’s efforts to revive the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the President.
The President told the Filipino community in Prague that so far, the Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.6 percent last year, outpacing other Asian neighbors like China, Viet Nam, and Malaysia.
“It’s proof that the Philippine economy is getting back on its feet again after reeling effects of the pandemic,” President Marcos stated.
“Sa atin naman, ay ginagawa po namin lahat upang pagandahin ang ating… Pilipinas at ‘yung ating mga kababayan na naiwan sa Pilipinas ay lahat ng ating… nag-iisip kami, binabago namin ang ekonomiya, binabago namin ang gobyerno upangtayo naman ay handa,” he pointed out.
The chief executive is expected to arrive in Manila on Saturday after his productive working visit to Germany and state visit to Czech Republic. (PND)
