MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said he is not keen on imposing a total ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait.
He is responding to the call of Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas to totally ban OFW deployment to the Middle Eastern country due to “heinous crimes committed” on Filipino migrant workers.
“I’m never very comfortable ‘yung nagba-ban na ganun dahil parang ang pag-ban sinasabi mo forever na ‘yan, hindi na pwede,” Marcos said in an interview with reporters in Manila.
“I don’t know, ‘yung sometimes overreaction ‘yun na, basta’t ban lang tayo ng ban, hindi naman tama,” he added.
Marcos, however, noted that it was Kuwait that prohibited the deployment of OFWs to their country as the Gulf state suspended its issuance of new visas to Filipinos due to alleged failure of the Philippines to comply with labor agreements.
He said that while the Philippine government is taking Kuwait’s decision as it is, it will continue to negotiate and consult with the Middle Eastern nation in the hopes that the situation may change.
“Baka sakali down the road magbago ang sitwasyon, maibalik ngayon ang ating mga workers. Hopefully down the road, we will continue to work to improve that situation,” Marcos said. (Daphne Galvez © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
