DFA chief goes to Bahrain, gets assurance on OFWs’ safety

After personally attending to the needs of Filipinos in Japan, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario proceeded to Bahrain where he got an assurance on the safety of Filipinos there. Del Rosario met with Bahrain Prime Minister Prince Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and his family on Saturday to discuss the situation of Filipinos in Bahrain, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday. “Meeting at his residence in Riffa, Prime Minister Khalifa assured Secretary Del Rosario of the safety of the Filipinos and promised that the government of Bahrain will look after them as if Filipinos were their own," the DFA said in a news release posted on its website Sunday. The DFA quoted Khalifa as saying the situation in Bahrain will become better and that his government will ensure stability and security. Also, the prime minister expressed appreciation for the Filipinos who continue to work in Bahrain despite the present situation. “They deserve good treatment… They will be treated like our people. We will make them feel that whatever the Bahraini gets, they will get too," the DFA said, quoting the prime minister. At least 40 Filipinos are working in the prime minister’s household. Investments Khalifa told del Rosario that Bahrain would like to invest in the Philippines, and is interested in having direct flights between Manila and Manama. Del Rosario, for his part, informed Khalifa of the Aquino administration’s thrust to create more jobs by attracting foreign investments. He cited the Philippine government’s efforts to create a good investment climate in the country and invited Bahrain to consider the private-public partnership initiative as an attractive investment vehicle. Del Rosario also mentioned that Aquino recently approved a limited open skies policy aimed at liberalizing the country's aviation industry to benefit tourism, trade, and investment. Both agreed on the importance of enhancing the bilateral relations in all aspects to the furthest extent possible. — JE, GMA News