JAKARTA, Indonesia—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed to make the Philippines conducive to business and investments.
Speaking before members of the Filipino community who gathered here to see him on hist first state visit, Marcos Jr. made the pronouncement as he said he no longer wants Filipinos to go abroad primarily to look for job opportunities.
This is the same sentiment he aired during the campaign period.
“Workers are abroad not because a matter of choice, but they are away from our familiar and beautiful shores, constrained to leave loved ones due to the lack of opportunities back home,” the President said.
“Together, we’ll make the Philippines more conducive for tourism, for investment, at the same time, creating more jobs for the economy,” he added as he expressed his administration’s commitment to make Filipinos’ “economic, social and cultural potential” fully realized in the Philippines.
Marcos Jr. also assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), whom he called “ambassadors of goodwill,” that they are part of his administration’s priority.
This, as he took pride in the newly-established Department of Migrant Workers, which will be fully operational starting 2023.
“You have become valued members of the local society -- as investors, as company directors, business consultants, lawyers, accountants, engineers, teachers, and technical staff,” he told Filipinos here in Indonesia.
“Your success here makes us all back home very, very, very proud,” he said. “Every time we hear news of yet another success by our OFWs, we are always saying thank you for the glory you bring to our country, for the good name that you burnish and polish of our country while you are abroad.“
Currently, there are at least 7,448 Filipinos in Indonesia, Ople said.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA, they are working in various sectors, mostly holding managerial, technical or professional level positions as company directors, engineers, accountants, supervisors and teachers.
In 2021 remittances from Overseas Filipinos in Indonesia reached $17.5 million, DFA added.