KUWAIT CITY – Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye Sunday afternoon (late Sunday evening in Manila) stressed that the visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo here demonstrates the importance she gives to Filipinos here and in the Middle East.

Bunye said that while the President was happy over the preparations made to ensure the welfare and safety of overseas Filipino workers in case the US-Iraq conflict escalates, the President wanted to see for herself the conditions of Filipinos in the area.

In a radio interview, Bunye said that besides meeting with the members of the Filipino community here, the Chief Executive would also meet with Kuwaiti officials to know the help and support they could provide the OFWs.

"Iba na yung nakikita niya ang sitwasyon dito sa Kuwait ng ating mga kababayan (It makes a lot of difference when the President assesses the situation of Filipinos in Kuwait)," he said.

During her meeting with the Filipino community, the President will discuss with the latter the contingency measures the Middle East Preparedness Team under Ambassador Roy Cimatu made.

She would also inform them of what the government, through its various agencies, has done to immediately respond to the needs and concerns of OFWs in case war erupts in Iraq.

Bunye said the government, through the Department of Labor and Employment, had allotted funds to finance possible voluntary repatriations and evacuations to safer places.

Bunye said the President desired to be with Filipinos in the Middle East so she could personally tell them that they have nothing to worry about.

"At maging yung mga pamilya ng OFWs ay walang dapat alalahanin tungkol sa kaligtasan ng kanilang mahal sa buhay (Their families and relatives do not have to also worry when it comes to the safety of their loved ones in the Persian Gulf)," he added.

"This a reassurance on the part of the President na talagang ginagawa ng pamahalaan yung maitutulong sa ating OFWs (that the government is doing everything to assure the safety and welfare of the OFWs)," Bunye said.

"Itong ating mga OFWs na itinuturing natin na mga bagong bayani ay nararapat lamang bigyan ng kaukulang pansin sa mga oras na talagang kailangan nila ang kalinga ng pamahalaan (The OFWs, who we regard as our new heroes, deserve all the help they can get from the government in these critical times. We have to give them what they ask for, their safety and welfare)," he noted.

The President’s visit is a way of showing the government’s acknowledgment of the valuable contributions of the OFWs to the Philippine economy, he added.

KUWAIT CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Sunday evening urged the Filipino community in this oil-rich country to help her relay to their relatives and friends in the homeland the message that the Philippine government has prioritized the safety and welfare of some 1.5 million overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the Persian Gulf.

""I want to bring the full weight of the Presidency" in this endeavor, the President said in a speech before compatriots delivered at about 11:10 p.m. (4:10 a.m., Monday in Manila) at The Tent, Bayan Palace here.

She stressed that "we will do whatever it takes to keep you out of harm’s way," in the wake of tension in the area brought about by the US-Iraq conflict.

But she said she was glad to see that the OFWs in the Gulf "are relaxed." The President arrived here Sunday on a brief official visit, codenamed Oplan Kalinga.

"This is the message I will deliver to your loved ones in the Philippines – that their loved ones in Kuwait are relaxed and that the Philippine government is prepared for any emergency," she added.

She called on her audience to send the same message through phone, text messages and letters, which she volunteered to have delivered to their loved ones in the Philippines.

But more importantly, the President told more than 50,000 Kuwait-based Filipinos that their government had prepared a comprehensive contingency plan "ensuring your safety and protection against war or terrorism" or other emergencies.

"The plan aimed that no single OFW will get hurt, that none will get dislocated from employment, that we keep our friendly ties with Kuwait and other host governments, and that we sustain and enhance the image of our country as a preferred source of professional, quality workers," she said.

She cited the efforts of Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, and Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT) head Ambassador Roy Cimatu for fine-tuning the contingency plan and making it ready for implementation.

She announced that P1 billion had been set aside for use of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in case the plan has to be carried out.

She clarified that the money would be "a stand-by fund" to be utilized to improve service delivery to and enhance the benefits of the OFWs, in any part of the globe, who own the fund.

Further, the Chief Executive informed her audience that she would be meeting with the Emir and ranking officials of Kuwait to review the steps "we have in place in case – God forbids – Filipinos are put in harm’s way and need to be removed from the region."

She said she would also express her "appreciation to their Highnesses for their concern about our citizens."

The Kuwaiti government has made the President its official guest.

She reminded the Filipino community that she came "in a mission of peace, and a journey of hope in the middle of the current crisis surrounding Iraq," which is adjacent to Kuwait.

"Every peace loving citizen of the world hopes war will be averted. But in any event, I assure you the government will do everything it can with the use of all resources under its disposal to enhance and protect our national interest," she said.

In her speech, the President cited the OFWs for their valuable contributions, not only as highly regarded and highly respected workers but also as overseas Filipino investors.

"Ipinupuhunan ninyo and inyong productive years alang-alang sa bansa (You have invested your productive years for the good of the nation)," she noted.

She said that because of their hard work, they have put up thousands of new homes, assured the education of their children and a better way of life for their families, and spurred countless small and medium enterprises that gave the country’s economy the vibrant growth it is enjoying.

"Sumigla ang maraming barangay, maraming bayan, maraming lungsod, maraming probinsiya sa kontribusyon ng overseas Filipinos (The contributions of OFWs deployed worldwide, in terms of remittances amounting to over P6 billion, have invigorated many villages, towns, cities and provinces nationwide)," she added.

Before ending her speech, the President congratulated the Filipino community here for uniting in promoting the collective interests of their members.

She said she would herald this feat in the Philippines and challenge the people to emulate it.

KUWAIT CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Sunday evening (Monday morning in Manila) praised "the great Filipino workers" deployed around the world and acknowledged their invaluable contributions that have helped spur socio-economic growth in the homeland.

"Ipinupuhunan ninyo and inyong productive years alang-alang sa bansa (You have invested your productive years for the good of the nation)," the President said in a speech before the Filipino community at The Tent, Bayan Palace here.

On top of being called overseas Filipino workers (OFW), "bagay rin na itawag sa inyo ay overseas Filipino investors (it is also apt that you be regarded as overseas Filipino investors)," she said.

She said the whole nation is indebted to all OFWs who have aggregately channeled over $6 billion in remittances to the Philippines annually.

She gave special mention to the over 50,000 OFWs in Kuwait and the 1.5 million OFWs in the Middle East. They comprise a large number of Filipinos working abroad.

The President said the OFWs have built a good reputation in their host countries and have generated a good image of the Philippines as the home of respectable skilled and professional labor.

She said that because of their hard work, the OFWs have successfully put up thousands of new homes, sent their children to good schools, and provided their families with a better life.

Besides this, the OFWs have facilitated the establishment of profitable small and medium businesses that helped push a vibrant economy the country is enjoying, she added.

"Sumigla ang maraming barangay, maraming bayan, maraming lungsod, maraming probinsiya sa kontribusyon ng overseas Filipinos (The contributions of OFWs have invigorated many villages, towns, cities and provinces in the Philippines)," she noted.

The President said that before she left the country for the brief official state visit to Kuwait, she received the inspiring news that the domestic economy grew by 4.6 percent, surpassing targets.

The gross national product, to include the remittances of OFWs, also increased by 5.2 percent, she said.

"Every peace loving citizen of the world hopes war will be averted. But in any event, I assure you the government will do everything it can with the use of all resources under its disposal to enhance and protect our national interest," she said in a speech before more than 1,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who jammed the state guest house, The Tent, at the Bayan Palace here.

The President who arrived here on a brief official visit tagged as Oplan Kalinga, told the OFWs "I’m here to bring you the message that we will do whatever it takes to keep you out of harm’s way."

She said she hoped that same message will be delivered by the OFWs themselves to the other Filipino workers deployed in other parts of the Middle East and to their own families back home in the Philippines.

"I am not here to discuss politics or military alliances," the President said. "I am here primarily to assure our Filipino citizens that your government cares for you."

"Nais kong ipakita sa inyo na kayo ay aking kinakalinga at minamahal (I am here to show you that I care for you and love you)," she stressed.

"Our foremost concern is keeping you safe and out of harm’s way in the event of a war or a terrorist attack," the President said.

She said that as early as September last year, "as a demonstration of my highest regard for the welfare of our OFWs," she tasked various government agencies to put in place a preparedness plan for the 1.5-million Filipinos in the Middle East who might be affected if war erupts or if other emergencies occur.

The preparedness plan is a comprehensive package of measures and programs primarily aimed at ensuring the safety and protection of the OFWs against war or terrorism, the President said.

"The plan aimed that no single OFW will get hurt, that none will get dislocated from employment," she said.

The plan is also aimed at maintaining the friendly ties with Kuwait and other host governments and at sustaining and enhancing the image of the Philippines as a preferred source of professional, quality workers, the President added.

KUWAIT CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila) said here she has ordered Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas to set aside P1 billion from the Overseas Worker's Welfare Administration (OWWA) to be utilized in the government's preparedness plan in case the conflict in the Middle East escalates.

In her speech before the Filipino community here, which congregated in the Bayan Palace, the official residence of the Emir of Kuwait, the President said the money, which is a standby fund, will be returned immediately to the OWWA if it will not be used.

"This is a standby fund. If it will not be spent, it will be returned to the OWWA and utilized to improve services delivery and enhance the benefits of overseas Filipino workers who own the fund," she said.

She said that OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo, who was present at the meeting, is ready to assist the OFWs.

"And even if there will be no war, and I dearly hope there will be none, the important thing is we are prepared," she said.

The President praised the Filipinos in Kuwait for being relaxed instead being alarmed about the situation.

"I am happy to see that you are not alarmed, that you are relaxed. This is the message that I will deliver to your loved ones in the Philippines," President said.

The President told the community that they can help deliver the same message to their families in the Philippines through their calls, text messages and letters.

"And if you're able to give me your letters tonight, I will give them to your love ones in the Philippines," the President said amid the cheers of the people.

True enough, after the speech and during cocktails at a separate area at the tent, the President received many letters, most of them written on the spot.

The President also expressed appreciation that the Filipino community in Kuwait is under one leadership, the Council of Leaders in alliance with the Pinoy Federation.

The President said she would report this to other Filipino communities in other places that she would visit.

"It's an honor for the President of the Philippines to see the Filipinos in a far-away land, like in Kuwait, truly united," she said.

The President delivered her speech at a smaller venue and transferred to a larger area for a big cocktail merienda with the members of the community.

The venue, which is in the Bayan Palace grounds, is adjacent to the Al Jarah, the Palace's guesthouse.

Also at the Palace, the President graciously posed for an almost endless photo opportunities with her kababayans who were all excited to see her.

It was a chilly night here in Kuwait but the warm welcome from the community compensated for it and the President was visibly touched by this show of affection.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to His Highness, the Emir, for welcoming me and my delegation to Kuwait. The Emir has always been a gracious host to our workers and I have also come here to thank His Highness for his personal concern and that of his government for your safety and welfare. This is a very comforting gesture for all Filipinos back home and it will always be remembered as a symbol of the warm and friendly relations between the Philippines and Kuwait.

* * *

Filipinos are indebted to our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, the Great Filipino Workers in the Middle East, for many reasons.

* * *

Our gross domestic product for the year 2002 grew by 4.6 percent while our gross national product grew by 5.2 percent. The difference between GDP and GNP or .6 percent, constitutes the contribution of the Great Filipino Workers.

(GMA also referred to the OFWs as the Great Filipino Investors)

* * *

Talagang balak kong dalawin ang ating mga kababayan sa Middle East. Ngunit sa Setyembre pa sana ako nakatakdang tumungo dito. Subalit dahil sa mga alalahanin ukol sa posibleng giyera sa Iraq, minadali ko na ang aking pagbisita.

* * *

I am not here to discuss politics or military alliances, I am here to assure our Philippine citizens that your government cares about you: that your families live and breathe for you; and we will do whatever it takes to keep you out of harms way.

* * *

Every peace-loving citizen of the world hopes a possible war will be averted. But in any event, I assure you the government will do everything it can, with the use of all resources under its disposal, to enhance and protect our national interest. Our foremost concern is keeping you safe and out of harm’s way in the event of a war or terrorist attack.

* * *

The preparedness plan is a comprehensive package of measures and programs primarily aimed at ensuring your safety and protection against war or terrorism. The plan also aims that no single OFW will get hurt, none will get dislocated from employment, that we keep our friendly ties with the host government, and that we sustain and enhance the image of the country as a preferred source of professional, quality workers.

* * *

I have directed Labor Secretary Santo Tomas, who is also with us here, to set aside P1 billion from the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration to be used in case we need to implement our preparedness plan. This is a standby fund. If it will not be spent, it will be returned to the OWWA and utilized to improve services delivery and enhance the benefits of OFWs who own the fund.

* * *

Immediately upon her arrival tomorrow, Tuesday, from a lightning trip to Kuwait, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will personally brief families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Philippine Trade and Training Center along Roxas Boulevard.

Families of OFWs are expected to attend the special briefing to be given personally by the President.

The briefing was requested earlier by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on behalf of families of OFWs working in Kuwait and other countries near Iraq where a war is threatening to erupt.

The President responded favorably to the request as she sympathized with the real concerns of these families. She fully recognized their need for authoritative information and official reassurances that the Philippine government is doing everything to keep their loved ones in harm’s way.

The President’s briefing for the families will cover, among other topics, the preparations for possible evacuation or, if necessary, repatriation, of Filipino workers from any war-affected area.

The President is also expected to reveal the results of her personal conversations with leaders of host governments, including the Emir of Kuwait, concerning provisions for protecting Filipino workers in these countries.

KUWAIT CITY— President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today appealed anew to the leadership of Iraq to heed the call for peace, saying it is not too late for humanity to prevail and peace to overcome.

In her remarks at the command conference held at the Bayan Palace here, which was attended by Philippine diplomats and heads of agencies based in the Middle East, the President said it is within the power of the Iraqi leadership to put its people and citizens of the world on notice "that they aspire not to conflict and suffering but rather to a legacy of compassion and humanity."

"I hope they heed the call of their people and do what is right," the President said.

Earlier, the President has called on Iraq to extend full cooperation to the United Nations arms inspection teams to avert a war in the Middle East.

The President said that the peace loving people of the Philippines wish for nothing less than a good life and a place within the family of nations.

But the President also said that to stand proud and live free, one must stand for what is right. "This has never been more apparent to me than during my visit to Kuwait," she added.

The President made a quick trip here to assure some 50,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait that the government cares for them and that preparations are in place to safeguard and protect them in case war erupts in neighboring Iraq.

She said that it is the duty of government, especially their representatives abroad, to reassure our OFWs that if a conflict should occur, our nation will do everything in its power to ensure their safety and well-being.

The President also called on the Philippine diplomats and labor officials assigned in the Middle East to do their share in guarding against terrorism "just like our home-based officials are doing their share in the Philippines."

KUWAIT CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today asked her detractors not to make her trip to this county a political issue, saying that the purpose of her trip was mainly to assure the safety of Filipino workers in the Middle East.

In her remarks the command conference at the Bayan Palace here, the President said that some people have questioned the wisdom of her trip here.

"But I must say that I deeply share the concerns and anxieties of our overseas workers and those of their families back home," the President said.

She said that the concerns of these OFWs are not only about their safety but also about the continuity and stability of their jobs.

"It is my duty as their President to provide you, their stewards in the Middle East, with personal leadership in attending to these concerns because I believe that they are important to our national interest," the President told the Philippine diplomats and heads of government agencies based in the Middle East who attended the command conference.

The President said that ever since the country faced the possibility of war in the Middle East, it has been the policy of the government to put the safety and welfare of our overseas workers in the region as its first priority.

KUWAIT CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gathered here today what she called the "stewards" of the overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East.

The gathering at the Bayan Palace was a command conference of all Philippine ambassadors, charge d’ affaires, labor attaches and social worker officers in the Middle East.

On top of the agenda of the meeting was the preparedness plan undertaken by the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT) headed by Ambassador Roy Cimatu.

In her remarks, the President said that she called for the gathering of the "full force of al our agencies and posts" to make sure that the safety and job security of the OFWs in the region are protected.

. "You, the diplomats and labor officials all over the Middle East, must try to do your share in guarding against terrorism just like our home-based officials are doing their share in the Philippines," the President said.

Among those in attendance were Ambassador to Kuwait Bayani Mangibin, Charge d’ Affaires (CDA) to United Arab Emirates Jose Ampeso, CDA to Iraq Grace Escalante, Ambassador to Egypt Shulan Primavera, Ambassador to Oman Akmad Sakkam, Ambassador to Qatar Wenceslao Quirolico, CDA to Bahrain Candidato Gutoc, CDA to Libya Belen Anota, CDA to Libya Benito Valeriano, and Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Bahnarim Guinomla.

"In the days ahead, we must seek the guidance of God and the call of our conscience as we pray for peace in the Middle East. Our nation and I will reflect on the best course of action that will protect our overseas workers, the integrity of our nation and our obligation to future generations to live in a world free from terror and oppression," the President said.

"Naniniwala ako na higit na malaki ang magagawa ng pamahalaan kung tayo’y sama-sama laban sa maraming hamon na ating kinakaharap, kabilang na ang krisis sa Gitnang Silangan (I believe that we can do more if we unite in facing the many challenges ahead, including the crisis in the Middle East)," the President said.

"Let us keep their trust in our government, and let this trust energize us in our united effort to build a strong Philippine nation wherever its citizens may be found," the President told the attendees in the command conference.

During the meeting, Ambassador Cimatu discussed what he called "mother contingency plan" for the whole OFWs in the region. He presented likely scenarios in the event of heightened conflict in the region and what it would do to OFWs.

He also briefed the envoys of the evacuation plans to be set up once the conflict worsens.

The President and Cimatu also listened to the presentation of several contingency measures set up by each embassy, as well as coordination efforts with the preparedness team.

Immediately upon her arrival in Manila tomorrow, the President will personally brief families of overseas Filipino workers at the Philippine Trade and Training Center along Roxas Boulevard.

The President has announced during a meeting with the Filipino community here that she is willing to give their letters to their loved ones in the Philippines upon her arrival in Manila.

The offer prompted many to write their correspondence right then and there at the event. The OFWs personally handed them to the President.

KUWAIT. -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that in the days ahead, "we must seek the guidance of God and the call of our conscience as we pray for peace in the Middle East."

"Our nation and I will reflect on the best course of action that will protect our overseas workers, the integrity of our nation and our obligation to future generations to live in a world free from terror and oppression," the President said in a command conference with Philippine envoys and labor officials, along with the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee headed by Ambassador Roy Cimatu.

The President said it is not too late for humanity to prevail and peace to overcome it.

"It is within the power of the Iraqi leadership to put its people and the citizens of the world on notice that they aspire not to conflict and suffering but rather to a legacy of compassion and humanity," she said. "I hope they heed the call of their people and do what is right," she added.

The President noted that the people-loving people of the Philippines wish for nothing less than a good life and place within the family of nations.

"Yet we must understand that to stand proud and live free we must stand for what is right. This has never been more apparent to me than during my visit to Kuwait," she said.

The President further said that we must all realize that terrorism is a universal threat and whether it is aimed at targets here in the Middle East or in Southeast Asia or in Mindanao, "it is our duty to help in guarding against the threat and to expose its militant cells."

She also noted that the Philippines and its workers enjoy warm relations with their host governments due to the high regard for their competence, professionalism and dedication.

"This is true in all countries where our workers abound and we should always let them know that their government is very proud of this. Everywhere we go, we must not hesitate to extol the great Filipino worker like you. They are your deputy ambassadors of our nation's goodwill and prestige," she said.

The President said she traveled to Kuwait to personally attend to the concerns of the OFWs "because I believe they are important to our national interest."