INQUIRER FILES
TOKYO, Japan — The newly-created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will always be ready to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Filipinos here on Sunday noon.
Marcos said during the meeting with the Filipino community in Japan that the DMW was created to practically help OFWs, especially those in distress.
“Kaya po nagbuo ang pamahalaan nitong bagong department, the Department of Migrant Workers na ang trabaho lamang – trabaho lamang ay alagaan kayo, bigyan kayo ng suporta, bigyan kayo ng tulong kapag nangangailangan, at iyan po ay sa aming palagay ay aming paraan upang magpasalamat sa inyong ginagawa, upang suportahan ang inyong ginagawa,” Marcos said.
(The reason why the government established this new department — DMW, which has the sole job of caring for you and supporting you in times of great need — is because we see the need to give back for your efforts, to back what you are doing.)
“At lagi ko namang sinasabi na dapat huwag natin makakalimutan ang ating mga kababayan sa abroad kahit hindi natin nakikita ‘yan, nagsisipag sila, nagsasakripisyo sila para sa bansa. Kaya’t kailangan naman ay kami ay gagawin namin ang lahat upang tumulong sa inyo,” he added.
(And I always say that we should not forget about Filipinos abroad because even if we don’t see them often, they are working hard, sacrificing for the greater good of the country. That’s why we need to do everything to help them.)
Marcos also thanked OFWs for being good ambassadors of the Philippines, as the migrant workers are often hailed for their work ethic and skills.
“Naging madali po – naging mas madali po ang trabaho namin dahil napakaganda ng reputasyon ng Pilipino dito sa Japan. Lahat ng makausap namin ay sinasabi nila hindi niyo na kami kailangang kumbinsihin kung gaano kagaling ang Pilipino dahil mayroon kaming empleyado, mayroon kaming kaibigan, mayroon kaming kilala, at alam na talaga namin na ang mga Pilipino ay mababait, masisipag, they are honest, English speaking pa,” he said.
(It has become easier to work because Filipinos have a good reputation here in Japan. All the people we have talked to say we do not need to convince them about the abilities of Filipinos because they have employees, friends, relatives, and we know that they are kind, honest, responsible, and can speak good English.)
“Hindi na namin kailangan silang kumbinsihin tungkol sa galing ng Pilipino, tungkol sa sipag ng Pilipino, sa bait ng Pilipino. Kaya’t ang pinag-uusapan na lang namin ay papaano natin, anong gagawin natin para makapag-partner dito sa ating mga bagong pinaplano,” he added.
(We do not need to convince them about the Filipinos’ abilities and work ethic, and their attitude. That’s why talks dwell on how we can partner with them for the new plans at hand.)
Filipinos make up a huge chunk of foreigners in Japan, with around 300,000 either for work or residency.
Marcos said that while conditions in Japan are good for Filipino workers, the government’s dream is to create jobs in the Philippines and make working abroad a career option.
“Ang maisusukli namin sa naging suporta ninyo sa amin ay ‘yung aming gagawing trabaho para pagandahin ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan sa Pilipinas,” he said.
(What we can give you in exchange for your support is making lives back home in the Philippines better.)
“At ang aking pangarap talaga ay masabi na natin na sapat ang trabaho sa Pilipinas at pagka nagkaroon ng OFW, pagka ang isang Pilipino ay nag-abroad para magtrabaho ito ay dahil pinili niya na pumunta sa abroad hindi napilitang pumunta sa abroad dahil may trabaho, may magandang buhay sa ating bansa. Iyan po ang ating pangarap,” he added.
(And it is my dream to say that we have enough jobs in the Philippines and having OFWs, that when Filipinos go abroad, this is because they chose to work here and not because the job opportunities are there, and that life in the Philippines is also good. That’s our dream.)
Marcos was in Japan for five days starting from February 8, where he and his delegation met with many business entities — from tourism, automotive, infrastructure, agriculture, semiconductor, and electronics industry — in a bid to attract investors.
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as of this writing, there is no exact figure yet as to how much investment pledges were secured during Marcos’ five-day official visit to Japan. But the Department of Trade and Industry said this could be around $10 billion or more than P500 billion.
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