Dhaka, 30 May 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today called on the Filipinos in Bangladesh to be active ambassadors of goodwill in projecting a positive image of themselves and their country in this part of the world.

The Secretary conveyed this message during her meeting with the leaders of various Filipino community organizations held at the residence of Ambassador Jose Lino B. Guerrero in Dhaka.
 
“As professionals and leaders of the Filipino community, you are in a unique position to promote our country and people through the image that you convey to the host government and to the other expatriate communities in Bangladesh,” Secretary Albert said.

“I am always heartened to know of the accomplishments and success of our overseas Filipinos, who now constitute an estimated ten percent of our total population. By being responsible and effective in your work, you also directly contribute to the positive image of our country and advance the cause of Filipino professionals and workers,” she added.
 
Secretary Albert also explained to the community leaders the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy, which are being pursued by the Department of Foreign Affairs both in Manila and abroad.

“To many of our countrymen, the DFA is usually associated with the issuance of passports. This is understandable as the delivery of consular services is one of the Department’s functions to which our overseas workers are usually exposed,” said the Secretary.

“But the Department is also mandated to carry out its three main functions, which is the promotion of the country’s national security, the pursuit of Philippine economic growth and development, and the protection of interests and the promotion of welfare of overseas Filipino nationals,” she added.
 
“In all my travels abroad, I see to it that these three key objectives of Philippine foreign policy are given equal weight and importance. This is the reason why I always meet with the Filipino community abroad as part of my official activities,” the Secretary said.
 
There are an estimated 300 Filipinos in Bangladesh who are mostly engaged in  the textiles and garments industry. They promised to submit their report to the Secretary on the subject the “rise and fall of the garment industry in the Philippines” and point out the reasons which have driven them to leave the Philippines to seek employment in the industry elsewhere. Many of them are highly skilled quality control technicians and consultants. Other Filipinos in Dhaka are professionals, entrepreneurs, and managers who are active in international educational institutions.
 
Despite their long years abroad, the Filipinos in Bangladesh have expressed a desire to return and invest in the Philippines. They requested Secretary Albert for information on the requirements for investing in the country. She assured the Filipinos that this request will be forwarded to the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Secretary also conveyed her appreciation to the Filipino community for actively participating in the recent political exercise to choose the national leaders who will lead the Philippines in the next six years. Some 203 Filipinos in Bangladesh registered for the Overseas Absentee Voting process, with 98 actually casting their ballots during a five-day field-unit voting conducted by the Embassy.

During the meeting that lasted more than two hours, Secretary Albert took the opportunity to personally talk to the Filipinos. The Secretary advised the Filipinos not to hesitate to avail of the services of the Embassy, the DFA, the DOLE, who are there to address their concerns.  END.