Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (蜜桃工作室 file photo)
Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has encouraged Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Hong Kong and Macau to consider investing their earnings to secure the future of their families in the Philippines.
鈥淥ver the years, you and our other聽kababayans聽abroad have been investing in the future of our country,鈥� Cayetano said聽on Sunday聽in two separate townhall meetings, according to the statement released by the DFA.
鈥淵our remittances serve as investments not only in education and housing but also for the future of your loved ones back home,鈥澛爐he secretary added.
The meetings were held at the St. Joseph the Worker Church in Macau and at the Duke of Windsor Auditorium in Hong Kong.
Cayetano, who ran and lost as an independent vice presidential candidate in 2016, thanked the 219,000 Filipinos workers in Hong Kong and the 30,000 in Macau for their remittances that 鈥渇uel the country鈥檚 growth.鈥�
After the unprecedented 6.9 growth in the economy during the third quarter, Cayetano said that he expects for more OFWs 鈥渢o take advantage of the economic boom and start investing their savings鈥� in the country.
The DFA secretary also encouraged overseas workers to acquire new skills to have access to 鈥渂etter-paying鈥� jobs.
鈥淚 encourage you to attend regular skills enhancement and language trainings here in Hong Kong or Macau and even back in the Philippines as this will surely open better employment opportunities for you,鈥� Cayetano said.
One of the developments of overseas workers鈥� benefits, the statement said, will be the availability of Philippine passports that are valid for 10 years, effective January next year.
鈥淭his is one of reforms that respond to your needs as overseas workers and I assure you that the Duterte administration will strive hard to ensure that all your rights and interests are protected,鈥� Cayetano said.
Before the townhall meetings, Cayetano inspected the Philippine Consulate General in Macau for repair and renovations. The Philippine Consulate General was severely damaged when Typhoon Hato stuck in August.