Here’s good news for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East: President Rodrigo Duterte will be visiting Saudi Arabia in 2017!
Last elections, Duterte enjoyed immense popularity among OFWs, particularly those in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There are close to 900,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia alone; though the number of Filipinos in the Kingdom could be as many as 1.8 million! There are also over 1 million Filipinos living in other emirates.
If Duterte will be visiting Saudi, then it would surely be a good chance for these Filipinos to meet the president in person!
According to Arab News, plans are already in the works for the president to visit Saudi; though the exact dates of his visit are still tentative.
“The Filipino community will be informed accordingly regarding the visit so that they could meet and welcome their president,” said Charge d’Affaires Iric C. Arribas.
“President Duterte is expected to meet with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman,” Arribas added.
As with other state visits to foreign countries, Duterte is expected to bring several members of his Cabinet. Foreign Secretary Perfecto “Jun” R. Yasay, Jr. is expected to join the president in this upcoming visit to Saudi.
