President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has pledged to improve the working conditions in the Philippines so Filipinos would no longer venture abroad to seek better opportunities.
Marcos made the statement during his meeting with the Filipino community in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, concluding his four-day trip there for the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and other related summits.
“Ang aking pangarap ay sana hindi na kailangang umalis ang Pilipino dahil hindi makahanap ng trabaho sa Pilipinas. Kung may aalis man sa Pilipinas para magtrabaho, hindi dahil sapilitan (I dream that Filipinos no longer have to leave the Philippines because of failure to find a job. If they have to leave, it would no longer be by force),” he said.
He added that he wants Filipinos to only leave the country if given the opportunity for a better position abroad, not because they are obligated to.
The President also lauded overseas Filipinos for their sacrifices and for upholding professionalism and the core values of Filipinos wherever they go.
“Lahat ng pinupuntahan ng Pilipino, pati na rito sa Phnom Penh, sa Cambodia, ay laging sinasabi ng mga lokal, ng mga tiga-doon, na 'ang mga Pilipino ay tuwang-tuwa kami na nandito sila dahil matulungin, napakasipag, honest.' Lahat ng mga katangian na hinahanap ng ating mga kaibigan (Wherever Filipinos go, even here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, they are being praised by locals for being helpful, hardworking and honest. You have all the qualities they are looking for),” Marcos said.
"Filipinos are the best people in the entire world," he added.
In his arrival statement on Monday, Nov. 14, said "Filipinos played a very large part" in the reconstruction of Cambodia.
"I was honored to meet them, and I thanked them for their efforts and contribution to our nation’s progress and development, as well as that of Cambodia’s because they have been lauded by even the Prime Minister Hun Sen as part of the reconstruction of Cambodia," Marcos said.
Filipinos in Cambodia work as teachers, guidance counselors, school administrators, engineers, accountants, managers, medical workers, supervisors, skilled workers, as well as executive positions.
According to the Philippine Consulate in Cambodia, there are more than 5,000 Filipinos living and working in Cambodia, most of them are English teachers and supervisors in clothing and apparel factories and casinos.