(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte arrived from his successful Middle East trip early Monday morning, saying this was his “most productive trip ever” with signed business deals worth more than $925 million in the three countries visited.
He also came home together with the overseas Filipino workers who had been given pardon by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, fulfilling his earlier promise that he would come back home with his fellow Filipinos. They were in a separate plane that landed at about the same time as the President’s plane.
The investment deals signed in Saudi Arabia were worth $469 million, while another $250 million worth of memoranda of agreements were signed in Bahrain. In Qatar,13 projects worth $206 million were also signed.
He said that the welfare of the Filipinos working in the Middle East was always on his mind during the trip, as he also announced he would work for the setting up of a general hospital for the overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East.
“Kayo talaga pinuntahan ko. Hindi ko masabi lahat ng pinag-usapan, but I gave so many concessions because I said it is to the national interest of the Republic of the Philippines. Hindi ko masabi lahat,” the President said.
“Welcome home at maraming salamat sa tulong ninyo,” he said
Upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City before 4 a.m., OFWs who had earlier been repatriated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, welcomed him.
The President did not read anymore the whole prepared speech for the occasion, only the last page, saying he was already very sleepy as it was a long trip.
But he said he was very happy that the OFWs were able to come home.
“They were more than willing to help the Filipino people,” he said of the leadership of the countries he had visited.
He said it was “to the national interest” that there is improved relationship between the Philippines and the Gulf states, noting that the Middle East is home to the largest number of Filipino workers overseas.
The President said he would “look for the money” and he would ask the permission of the concerned governments to establish even just a small general hospital for the OFWs.
He said he would also make sure that all Filipinos from the Middle East who want to go home, would be able to come home.
The President said he would also make sure that the OFWs who had returned to the country would have their own livelihood to make ends meet.
“Since you helped us a lot sa ating economy noon, tutulong rin kami. Just go to the nearest DTI (Departrment of Trade and Industry),” he said.
“Yung importante is yung message ko about the livelihood and the continuing repatriation of Filipinos who want to return, lalo na yung may sakit,” he said upon his arrival.
The President also gave the OFWs a total of P10,000 in cash assistance — the first P5,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the other P5,000 from the President’s funds. The cash assistance was distributed to the OFWs by President Duterte himself before he left.
Mr. Duterte even made sure that the repatriated OFWs would have a place to stay the night, as he asked who among his OFW audience had a place to sleep in.
One OFW hailing from Davao was also promised a plane ticket to Davao.
Still, another one who had a young child with her was promised an extra gift — that the President would serve as a godfather to her child.
The President also assured that OFWs who have no money for their medical expenses could just go to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for assistance. He said he had given P1 billion to the DSWD for the benefit of Filipinos who are so poor they have no money to pay for their medicines and other medical expenses. The other P1 billion was for the community-based rehabilitation of drug addicts. The President said this was something he didn’t like, but he had to do.
“Ito yung mga walang kinontribute sa bayan,” he said.
From the airport, Mr. Duterte will proceed to Batangas to visit a soldier slain in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf in Bohol. After that, he will then go to Davao to be with his family.
“Sabik na sabik na ako sa aking mga anak at sa aking mga apo,” he said.