President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits the Filipino community in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, Nov. 19. 2022/ (Photo from the Office of the President)
BANGKOK, Thailand — A Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) will soon be built in Thailand, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople announced on Saturday.
Ople made the announcement when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with the Filipino community there on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
Marcos stressed that the government could easily accommodate the needs and concerns of Filipinos living and working in Thailand through the POLO.
“That’s a big thing, and everything that you need to do will be easier. We can really depend on Secretary Toots [Ople] because that has been her advocacy,” Marcos said in a mix of Filipino and English.
The president noted that each overseas Filipino worker serves as an ambassador of the Philippines.
“You became a great ambassador because when we talked to Thais they said that they do not have any complaints against Filipino workers. They are hardworking,” he said.
The president likewise highlighted the importance of his participation in the APEC meet.
“This meeting became important for me because I met the leaders and they met me,” he said.
Further, Marcos committed himself to improve Philippine economic growth while providing more work opportunities for Filipinos.
Meeting the Filipino community in Bangkok was the last activity Marcos had in Thailand prior to returning to the Philippines.