President Duterte has called for the protection of migrant workers regardless of their status after many have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The President championed the rights and welfare of migrants during the virtual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) after putting a spotlight on the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who continue to serve in the frontlines of the disease outbreak.
"In these times, we need stronger cooperation in promoting and protecting the rights of migrants, regardless of their migrant status," Duterte said in a pre-recorded message to the global body.
"We must all adhere to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. Unless states include all migrants in their response to this pandemic, 'no one among us is safe, until everyone is safe,' as the Secretary-General has said," he added.
Duterte, in his debut address to the UN gathering, said Filipino migrant workers have been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic.
"Many have lost not only their livelihood, but also their health and lives as well. Yet they go on in the frontlines, healing, caring for others in the different parts of the world," he said.
In an unprecedented move, the government has launched a repatriation program for more than 345,000 OFWs affected by the pandemic, according to Duterte.
"We have brought back half and are bringing back the rest," he said.
Duterte also extended his gratitude to the countries that extended aid to Filipino migrants such as residence permits, access to testing, treatment, and related health services.
He said the government has also brought home seafarers who were stranded due to coronavirus restrictions. "We pioneered with the IMO (International Maritime Organization) the Green Lane for safe changes of seafaring crews," he said.
The green lane facility, established last July, seeks to facilitate the safe and swift travel of seafarers, including their disembarkation and crew change subject to health protocols.