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Duterte may expand OFW ban to other countries
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the 10th Biennial National Convention and 20th Founding Anniversary Celebration of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) at the Manila Hotel on February 19, 2018, expresses his gratitude to the Chinese government and business community for their contribution to the development of the Philippines. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
The President may add other countries next to Kuwait in which he will be banning the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“The ban will continue and it will extend to other countries. They will have difficulties, well I am apologizing to you. I will not allow [it],” President Rodrigo Duterte said on February 19, during the 20th anniversary of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club.
“Wala akong plano na ipadala kayo doon tapos babuyin kayo. Hindi ko style ‘yan (I do not plan of sending you there only to be disrespected. That is not my style),” he added.
Duterte said that he is willing to accept all the anger that will be directed to him for cutting these job opportunities, but the “ban stands.”
Furthermore, according to him, “Magalit kayo nang magalit sa akin, tutal – basta ako trabaho lang (Be angry at me, since for me it is only a job).”
“Umuwi lang kayo dito maski na papaano matulungan ko kayo maski sa pagkain (Just come home here, in a way I can help you even with food). And maybe in the fullness of God’s time, if we can really improve the economy, I could give you livelihood projects – it’s undertaken by Secretary [Ramon] Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),” Duterte said.
The President also mentioned that he could tap China for possible job opportunities, saying that it there is no “brutality” in the culture of Asians.
“We, Orientals, do not do that. We do not inflict brutality and cruelty on our fellow human,” he added.
In a press briefing on February 20, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said that Duterte has “no specific country in mind yet.”
He added that the President was “referring to countries that would treat Filipinos without due regard to their humanity.”
