Philippines President to set up department for OFW affairs

Manama: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has announced that he would soon set up a department that would focus solely on the affairs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“In a few months, you will have a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers,” he said as he faced an ecstatic crowd of about 4,000 OFWs here at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium.

He said that with a separate OFW department, the time to process workers' papers would be reduced from six weeks to three weeks.

An OFW department would also help stamp out fly-by-night recruitment agencies, he added.

The President likewise promised the OFWs that his six-year administration would be free from corruption, oppression and abusive officials, saying that he wants to solve the problem of corruption in the country to encourage OFWs to return home.

He said OFWs can also help reform the country by being assertive and by shunning all acts of corruption, particularly at the immigration and customs bureaus.

President Duterte meanwhile expressed his gratitude to the progressive Kingdom of Bahrain for welcoming Filipino workers into their country.

“Bahrain has been good to you. I have talked to all officials, including His Majesty the King, and they only have nice words for you,” he said.

Duterte proceeded to Qatar for the final leg of his three-country swing in the Middle East.