QC Vice Mayor commends Duterte bid to protect Filipino workers abroad
Published Mar 28, 2018 02:25 pm
By Chito Chavez
Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte has commended President Duterte’s move to fight for the rights of women Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), specifically those working in Kuwait and other Middle Eastern countries.
Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte. (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
Belmonte, a staunch defender of women’s rights, said she is impressed by Duterte’s determination to compel the Kuwaiti government to sign an agreement ensuring the well-being of OFWs, especially women.
“Natutuwa ako sa Pangulo (I admire the President), he really fights for the rights of our OFWs, most of whom are women.Karamihan sa mga OFWs natin ay mga babae (Most of our OFW are women),” Belmonte said.
The conditions Duterte wants the oil-rich state to agree on before lifting the OFW deployment ban will benefit women OFWs, according to Belmonte.
Citing figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority, she said women migrant workers comprise 53.6 percent, or more than half, of 2.2 million OFWs.
Despite critics accusing Duterte of being a chauvinist, Belmonte stressed she really felt the President’s sincerity when he enumerated his demands to the Kuwaiti government concerning the welfare of women OFWs in particular.
Among others, Duterte wants Kuwait to ensure OFWs get seven hours of sleep, enjoy holidays, and will not have their passports confiscated by their employers.
He also demanded that OFWs be allowed to cook their own food rather than eating leftovers, a common practice of abusive employers in Kuwait.
“So ito ‘yung mga rights na pinaglalaban ng ating Pangulo (These are the rights the president is pushing). He said ‘I will not allow women OFWs to go back to Kuwait if you do not grant them rights’. Kaya palakpakan natin ang ating Pangulo (That is why let us applaud the president),” Belmonte said.
Last week, Belmonte was among those who took an oath as new members of Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD NECC) at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City where the President discussed the draft agreement with Kuwait.
With distressed women OFWs in mind, Belmonte’s message to her women constituents as the end of the celebration of National Women’s Month nears: “Here in the Philippines we are empowered women. We know our rights. But let us not forget na meron tayong mga kabaro na hanggang ngayon may struggles pa rin sila (Let us not forget that there still has Filipino women who are engulfed in various struggles).”
Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte. (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
Belmonte, a staunch defender of women’s rights, said she is impressed by Duterte’s determination to compel the Kuwaiti government to sign an agreement ensuring the well-being of OFWs, especially women.
“Natutuwa ako sa Pangulo (I admire the President), he really fights for the rights of our OFWs, most of whom are women.Karamihan sa mga OFWs natin ay mga babae (Most of our OFW are women),” Belmonte said.
The conditions Duterte wants the oil-rich state to agree on before lifting the OFW deployment ban will benefit women OFWs, according to Belmonte.
Citing figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority, she said women migrant workers comprise 53.6 percent, or more than half, of 2.2 million OFWs.
Despite critics accusing Duterte of being a chauvinist, Belmonte stressed she really felt the President’s sincerity when he enumerated his demands to the Kuwaiti government concerning the welfare of women OFWs in particular.
Among others, Duterte wants Kuwait to ensure OFWs get seven hours of sleep, enjoy holidays, and will not have their passports confiscated by their employers.
He also demanded that OFWs be allowed to cook their own food rather than eating leftovers, a common practice of abusive employers in Kuwait.
“So ito ‘yung mga rights na pinaglalaban ng ating Pangulo (These are the rights the president is pushing). He said ‘I will not allow women OFWs to go back to Kuwait if you do not grant them rights’. Kaya palakpakan natin ang ating Pangulo (That is why let us applaud the president),” Belmonte said.
Last week, Belmonte was among those who took an oath as new members of Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD NECC) at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City where the President discussed the draft agreement with Kuwait.
With distressed women OFWs in mind, Belmonte’s message to her women constituents as the end of the celebration of National Women’s Month nears: “Here in the Philippines we are empowered women. We know our rights. But let us not forget na meron tayong mga kabaro na hanggang ngayon may struggles pa rin sila (Let us not forget that there still has Filipino women who are engulfed in various struggles).”