MANILA — The Philippine government as represented by a Department of Foreign Affairs delegation committed to continuing a “constructive” engagement in the consultation and negotiation processes towards a global compact on safe, orderly, and regular migration (GCM).
The delegation met with UN Secretary-General Special Representative on Migration Louise Arbour on the ways forward for the GCM at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for the Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration held in Bangkok last week.
Led by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola, the delegation assured Arbour that it is in the interest of the Philippines to promote welfare and rights of migrants.
“With almost ten million Filipinos working and residing abroad, it is the primordial obligation or foreign service to promote the welfare and protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” Arriola said.
Arriola assured Arbour that the Philippines would continue to be “constructively engaged” in the consultation and negotiations process towards the adoption of the GCM.
GCM is a comprehensive international cooperation framework on migration and migrants with the safety, dignity and human rights of the latter as its foundation.
“Our President, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, has the plight of the OFWs in his heart and their welfare is a cornerstone of his government policies,” Arriola said.
Aside from the undersecretary, the DFA team is composed of Ambassador Evan Garcia, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, and Minister Enrico Fos, focal person on migration issues at the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva
Ambassador Garcia for his part explained to Arbour that the “Philippine engagement in the GCM process is anchored on human rights, the empowerment of the migrants and the recognition of their positive contribution to their countries of origin and destination.” (PNA)