MANILA — The bilateral ties between the Philippines and Kuwait remain intact and the two countries continue to enjoy “good” relations.
Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Ahmad Alhwaikh made this assurance amid President Rodrigo Duterte’s sentiments against abuses and maltreatment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait, as well as the Kuwaiti government’s reaction to how the Gulf state’s image is painted.
At the Kuwait National Day Reception on Wednesday, Alhwaikh said the issue on OFWs is being taken into “another stage” of cooperation.
“Nothing to affect us, every problem between our two countries will be solved,” he said, adding that communication on the issue is constant.
On their decision to extend the amnesty program for overstaying OFWs for two more months from Thursday, he said this is just “natural” since they have a role to do “humane things”.
Alhwaikh added that this also reflects that “Kuwait is the capital of humanitarian (causes)” and that their leader is compassionate.
Meanwhile, he said that the Philippine government welcoming their amnesty extension clearly “reflects” the two states’ “good relations”.
Awaiting response
Alhwaikh confirmed that he extended an invitation to President Duterte to visit Kuwait through the Department of Foreign Affairs, adding that his government is now awaiting a response.
Malacanang earlier said no decision on the matter has been reached.
To recall, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the visit of the chief executive remains indefinite until “substantial agreement and firm commitments” are made and only when Duterte sees it fit as a sufficient start in the protection of OFWs in Kuwait.
In January, the President threatened to impose a total ban on the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait after the reported death of seven Filipinos while in the Gulf state.
Earlier this month, he ordered the ban for new Filipino workers to the country after the body of Joanna Demafelis was discovered in a freezer a year after she was reported missing.
As the two countries cooperate on an agreement to improve the welfare of OFWs in Kuwait and regulate their working conditions, the repatriation of overstaying Filipinos from the Gulf state continues.
As of April last year, the DFA recorded a total of 252,203 Filipinos in Kuwait. The figure includes an estimated 10,912 undocumented or illegal migrants. Of the total, 159,291 or more than 66 percent are working as household service workers.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait already processed 3,801 travel documents for workers since the amnesty period began. To date, 1,796 Filipinos have been repatriated, with another batch of 2,000 workers to come home in the next few days. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
