President Duterte’s Special Envoy to Bahrain reaffirmed the special ties between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Bahrain during his official visit to the Muslim country.
Presidential Assistant for Foreign Affairs (PAFA) Robert E.A. Borje arrived in the Kingdom of Bahrain on Monday for an official visit until Dec. 31.
He was joined by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Arriola and Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary for Global Media and Public Affairs JV Arcena.
Assistant Foreign Minister H.E. Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri and Philippines' Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Alfonso A. Ver welcomed the Philippine delegation at the Bahrain International Airport.
Borje expressed the President’s warm wishes for King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the gratitude of the Filipino nation for the king's personal care and concern for the welfare and well-being for the 50,000 overseas Filipinos living and working in the country, even at the height of the global health crisis.
He also conveyed Duterte’s recognition of and respect for the king and the Bahrain government’s leadership and contributions to regional and global efforts to uphold the rights of migrant workers.
He said the President valued the “partnership of brothers” between the Philippines and Bahrain which “continues to transform the lives of many.”
The Assistant Foreign Minister meantime recognized the role of Filipinos in the Kingdom of Bahrain and stressed that bilateral partnership in this mutually important area will continue.
Borje welcomed Bahrain’s groundbreaking labor reform efforts to promote and protect the rights of migrant workers, including through the Flexi Visa System which allows a pathway to regular immigration status without an employer sponsor.
The two officials also reaffirmed the importance of further broadening and deepening Philippines-Bahrain cooperation, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as trade and investment, education, ICT, agriculture, and public health, including the diagnostics, management, and treatment of COVID-19.
Throughout the visit, the Philippine delegation will participate in a series of intergovernmental meetings with officials of the Kingdom and undertake Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) and repatriation programs.