Friday, April 20, 2012

2nd Ministerial Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue

President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the holding of the 2nd Ministerial Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD II) in Manila which, he said, provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss ways of improving the plight of overseas workers.

The ADD II aims to provide a forum for the discussion of new ideas and concrete activities towards the enhancement of bilateral and regional cooperation and partnerships to bring about maximum benefits of labor migration for the peoples of Asia, including Filipinos.

"This (ADD II) is an excellent opportunity for us, not just to share our visions, or our ideas -- but also to listen to what our counterparts have to say. After all, none of our economies grow in a vacuum; and thus, progress comes not from focusing only on our own people, or only on our own growth; it comes from strengthening partnerships, focusing on each others' growth," the President said in his speech keynoting the ADD II on Thursday in Pasay City.

"Because if everyone grows, then all our capabilities are enhanced, and all our opportunities are greatly improved; and, in the end, it is all our people who will reap the rewards," he added.

The President said that it is important for the dialogue centers to ensure that the workers' safety, needs and wants are properly met.

"What all of us want is clear -- we want the recruitment for our people to be both fair and efficient; we want workers to be treated with dignity; and we want to be able to go back home in a convenient manner, and to be successfully reintegrated in our respective societies," he stressed.

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