Vice President Sara Duterte meets with OFWs in Singapore on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (Photo from VP Sara Duterte’s Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — During her visit to Singapore, Vice President Sara Duterte recognized the sacrifices of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there, saying that the country is waiting for them to come home.
Duterte visited Singapore from Tuesday to Wednesday, as part of her activities as the president of the inter-governmental group Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMO). While in the Orchard Hotel in Singapore, the Vice President met with OFWs.
“Sa aking mensahe, kinilala ko ang sakripisyo ng mga overseas Filipino workers—kabilang na ang pagkakawalay nila sa kanilang mga pamilya upang mabigyan sila ng komportableng pamumuhay. We are all waiting for you back home,” she said in a Facebook post late Tuesday night.
(In my message, I recognize the overseas Filipino workers—including those who are separated from their families to give them a comfortable life. We are all waiting for you back home.)
Duterte, who concurrently serves as the Education Secretary, also visited the SEAMO’s Regional Learning Centre (RELC) in Singapore on Wednesday.
“Sa pangunguna ni Centre Director Susan Leong, nailahad sa atin ang dalawang pangunahing programa ng RELC—ang pagbibigay ng scholarship programs sa mga guro mula sa mga bansang kasapi ng organisasyon at ang pagsasagawa ng mga international conferences. Ipinahayag natin ang ating interes na makipagtulungan sa mga kasapi ng organisasyon,” said Duterte.
(Under the leadership of Centre Director Susan Leong, we were told of the two leading programs of the RELC—to giveaway scholarship programs to teachers from member countries of the organization and to create international conferences. We expressed our interest in helping other members of the organization.)
Prior to this, Duterte had also met with Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, where they spoke about education concerns and the country’s best practices.
Duterte also visited Brunei on Monday, where she met with the country’s prince and education officials.