Sen. Raffy Tulfo visited the United Arab Emirates to personally checked the conditions of overseas Filipinos (OFWs) in Dubai.
Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, was joined by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Usec. Hans Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnel Ignacio, Ambassador Ferdinand Ver, and Philippine Consul General Renator Duenas Jr. in his four-day visit in Dubai from June 6 to 9.
The senator kicked off his Dubai visit by celebrating Migrant Workers’ Day on June 7 with several Filipinos there, including three Filipino OFW-turned business owners namely Maria Emma Lizano, Olive Samson, and Melinda Nulla. He is proud that they now own a famous Filipino restaurant in Waterfront, Dubai called PALUTO. Macon Ramos-Araneta
On same day, Tulfo was also invited as guest of honor in the basketball competition of the seafarers’ league, wherein he promised them to continue fighting for and pushing for the swift passage into law of the Magna Carta of Seafarers Bill now on its second reading at the Senate.
He then visited Migrant Workers Repatriation Center in Al Qusais 3, Dubai the following day where he was joined by Cacdac, Ignacio, Consul General Renato Dueñas and Labor Attache John Rio Bautista, among others.
In his visit, Tulfo inspected the center’s facilities and noticed that there are some things that could be improved and added in the shelter, including the construction of a dressing room and locker for OFWs and the removal of a CCTV installed in the isolation room to ensure their privacy.
The senator likewise proposed an additional cooling fan in the shelter’s dining area which tends to get very hot especially when migrant workers eat together, as well as one more toilet and shower area to avoid long bathroom lines. The shelter only has two small bathrooms to date.
He also pointed out the need for a washing machine and dryer in the shelter so migrant workers will not have difficulty washing and drying their clothes.
Tulfo commended OWWA, DMW, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for their initiatives and efforts to improve the service to nearly one million Filipinos in Dubai and promised to fight for their budget increase in the next budget hearing.
On his last day in Dubai, Tulfo attended as the guest of honor in a pre-Independence Day celebration and OFW Cultural Night held at the Migrant Worker’s Office which showcased the talents of the OFWs in the UAE and commemorated the Filipino culture through dancing, singing food and arts.