FOLLOWING the murder of another overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowed to further strengthen the partnership and cooperation between the Philippines and other countries that serve as a second home for the OFWs.

In a vlog, Marcos recognized anew the important role of the OFWs to society, saying that seeing some of them completes his every trip abroad.

“Ang tanging maisusukli ko sa inyong hindi matatawarang kontribusyon sa ating lipunan ay masiguro ko ang inyong proteksyon, ang inyong kalagayan, at ang kalagayan ng mga naiwan ninyong pamilya sa ating bansa,” Marcos said.

(The only thing I can repay for your contribution to our society is that I can assure your protection, your condition, and the condition of the families you left behind in our country.)

“Ang tanging maisusukli ko ay ang patuloy na pagpapatibay ng ating ugnayan sa mga kinatawan ng bawat bansang kinaroroonan ninyo ganyan ang pakay natin lagi. Gaya noong isang araw tinipon natin ang ambassador ng iba’t ibang bansa sa Palasyo,” he added.

(The only thing I can pay in return is to continue to strengthen our relationship with the representatives of each country you are in. That is our goal. Like the other day, we gathered the ambassadors of different countries in the Palace.)

He reiterated his administration’s effort to produce more jobs in the Philippines so that Filipinos no longer have to leave the country and their families in order to provide for them.

Marcos said they are also looking into providing more training for the reskilling and upskilling of Filipino workers to enable them to be more highly competent around the world.

On Tuesday evening, Marcos met with members of the diplomatic corps as he hosted a vin d’honneur at the Malacañang Palace.

During the event, he expressed confidence that the Philippines will achieve economic prosperity in the coming years.

The President said he is hopeful that the Philippines will become an upper-middle-income country by 2025. (SunStar Philippines)