And Raisonel Datu Magangcong, President of ARAP-OFW Foundation, Inc. (6th from left – first row) and other Muslim leaders, during a forum in Makati City. And during a news conference January 26, 2015 prior to the Saudi embassy homage prayers for Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Raisonel personally delivered a letter to the Saudi embassy in the Philippines to express sympathy with Saudi government and its people on the sudden demise of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (Mindanao Examiner)
(Mindanao Examiner)
MAKATI CITY – Philippine leaders paid homage Monday to Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who died at the age of 90.
Leaders from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao gathered at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Manila and offered prayers alongside embassy officials as they pay their last respect to the Arab King.
Malacanang earlier extended condolences to the Saudi Royal family citing the legacy left behind by King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, especially in mercy and compassion for Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia.
President Aquino had previously praised the King for granting clemency to Filipino workers under trial and for extending financial assistance to save Rodelio Lanuza from death row.
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had often given opportunity to Filipino workers facing immigration problems and for standardizing employment contracts in Saudi Arabia.
The alliance of Recruitment Agencies of the Philippines (ARAP-OFW Foundation, Inc.) together with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front expressed optimism that the legacy of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will continue with the assumption of his 79-year old half-brother as the new Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is also the Defense minister since 2011. He has also been standing in for the ailing Abdullah for several months by chairing cabinet meetings, representing Saudi Arabia abroad and hosting foreign dignitaries, according to a report by the Guardian newspaper.
In a letter sent to Saudi Arabia, the ARAP-OFW Foundation, Inc. headed by its president, Raisonel Datu Magangcong, said they are hopeful that the new King will further strengthen the same mercy and compassion the deceased King had towards Filipino workers.
“The Alliance of Recruitment Agencies of the Philippines and the Bangsamoro people share in your loss of the illustrious monarch and revered leader. Our thoughts go out to the Saudi Royal Family and the people of Saudi Arabia.”
“The late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Saud, is most especially remembered for valuing the contributions of Filipino migrant workers in the national development of the Kingdom. The recruitment industry in our country is hopeful that Your Highness ascends to the throne will further strengthen and deepens the benevolence, mercy and compassion towards Filipino workers in the Kingdom, most especially those who landed in jails and on death row,” Magangcong said in the letter.
Magangcong and his group earlier pledged to help Filipinos who are languishing in jails abroad by funding training for diplomats, lawyers and social workers from the ranks of Bangsamoro professionals.
The fund being offered by ARAP-OFW Foundation, Inc. would also help to support and establish legal and humanitarian assistance for overseas Filipino workers in jails.
Magangcong earlier called on fellow Muslims to help the Aquino government save the lives of Filipinos in death rows in the Middle East. More than 250 Filipino workers are currently in death rows and over 7,000 in jails awaiting death penalty.
The MILF is also supporting the ARAP-OFW Foundation by endorsing a policy proposal adopted during a recent forum on overseas Filipino workers, citing incapacity of embassy personnel to facilitate cases of distress workers, as well as the lack of effective program that addresses the psycho-social health of OFWs coping homesickness and culture shock.
The group also said it would dispatch emissaries to coordinate with the host countries for the new scheme of crises intervention involving Filipino Muslims who are actively engage in the diplomatic community and regarded with high respect in the Middle East.
ARAP-OFW Foundation has urged the government to allocate more funding for additional embassy personnel and consular offices in the Middle East, especially in countries where there are large presence of Filipino workers, to ensure their welfare.
According to data provided by the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, there are over 100,000 Filipinos working as domestic workers in the United Arab Emirates – which is one of the largest OFW populations in the world with roughly 40% working in low-paying jobs.
The ARAP-OFW Foundation, which is representing hundreds of recruitment agencies deploying Filipino workers in the Middle East, said it would enter into contract with Bangsamoro leaders for the recruitment and training of Muslim diplomats, lawyers and social workers for immediate deployment abroad in collaboration with Arab counterparts. This will compose the first batch of private personnel augmenting deficiencies of embassies and consulates in United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Aside from that, ARAP-OFW Foundation said it will also sign a memorandum of agreement with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for competency standardization of embassies’ personnel. It said the partnership aims to raise competent delivery of the welfare of OFWs and effective rapport with employers and government of the host country. (Mindanao Examiner)
Like Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
Read Our News on: http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/ and http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/
Share The News
20