Wednesday, December 06, 2006 Overseas workers to benefit from agreement to be forged in summit
MANY benefits will be brought to Cebu and the Philippines with the holding of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit here.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Victoriano Lecaros, who is also the official spokesman for the summit, said the migrant workers agreement is among the more important issues to be discussed during gathering.
He said the agreement seeks to provide migrant workers free access to the courts of the country where they are working.
Lecaros said the agreement further seeks to provide protection to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly in their salary level, work hours and work schedule, medical benefits and repatriation of the bodies of dead OFWs.
“It’s difficult to tell a daughter that your father died and he was buried somewhere by his employer,” Lecaros said during the 888 News Forum at the Port Seafood Restaurant.
“These are things that you can’t quantify in pesos but are equally important,” Lecaros said.
No worry
Lecaros said people should not worry about the money spent for the summit because this can be recovered, although not immediately.
As for Cebu, its improved infrastructure triggered by the holding of the summit in the province is beneficial to the Cebuanos.
Cebu City Information Officer Nagiel Bañacia said it is a challenge for Cebua-nos and the local government units to maintain the infrastructure and beautification projects.
He said the City Government has decided to extend its beautification efforts to Osmeña Blvd. after the summit.
He challenged all Cebuanos not to steal or destroy the streetlights, lamps, plants and others that had been put in place.
“The attitude should be ‘that is mine, that is ours, not theirs,’” said Lecaros, a Cebuano.
He said Cebu and the Philippines will certainly be publicized in the 18 different countries that will participate in the summit.
He said it is a privilege for Cebu to be chosen as a venue for the summit because it would catch the world’s attention, especially investors, and this opportunity should not be wasted.
The Philippines has no choice but to integrate with the regional economies. It has to be competitive in order to attract investments, said Lecaros. (ROV)
