DAVAO CITY (June3) — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Sunday, June 3, expressed gratitude to the government of South Korea for taking care of Filipinos in their country.
“I’d like to thank the Korean government, South Korea, for hosting so many Filipinos here — keeping them safe,” the President said in his speech at the Convention Hall, Grand Hilton Hotel and Convention Center during his meeting with the Filipino community.
The President who is on a three-day Official Visit to the Republic of Korea spent more than two house with Filipinos in said gathering.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), estimated about 68,000 Filipinos are currently residing in South Korea, that include workers who entered the country under the employment permit system (EPS), students, professionals, missionaries, and spouses of Korean nationals.
Philippine Ambassador to Republic of Korea Raul Hernandez said most of the Filipinos are based in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and the surrounding citizen towns in the Gyeonggi province.
He also noted that Filipinos are given equal coverage and protection as locals and enjoy the same wage, working hours, privileges, as well as insurance, benefits, and other support program.
President Duterte then proceeded to an additional room to meet with more members of the Filipino community.
In his remarks, the President told them that he is very happy to see his countrymen and reported to them the developments in the Philippines.
“I would like your life to be as comfortable as possible. Medyo nag-improve na ho tayo. Kulang tayo ng mga trabahante ngayon,” Duterte said, citing the offer of businessmen in Davao for OFWs in the Middle East to go home and work in the Philippines.
Prior to his meeting with the Filipino community, the President met with Emelita Camerino Saquilayan, a domestic worker in South Korea, who asked for Duterte’s assistance in starting a small business in the Philippines. ezc/NewsLine.ph
