Vice President Jejomar C. Binay today said the South Korean government is looking at relaxing immigration to allow more migrant workers, especially in the hotel and restaurant industry.
Speaking before over 1,000 Filipinos at St. Benedict’s Church in Seoul, Binay said he was informed by Korean businessmen of the plan, which is part of the country’s preparations for the hosting of the Asian games in 2013.
“Marami pong mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na makapaghanapbuhay dito, lalo na sa nagtapos ng hotel and restaurant management,” Binay said.
Binay , the concurrent Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns, also assured the Filipino community that the Philippines is in continuous discussions with the South Korean government to help find solutions to problems encountered by Filipino immigrants and OFWs.
“Hindi kayo nag-iisa sa pagharap sa inyong mga suliranin. Kasama ninyo ang inyong pamahalaan dito. Patuloy ang pakikipag-usap ng ating pamahalaan, sa pamamagitan ng ating embahada dito, sa mga kinaukulan sa Korea,” he said.
He said that a law was recently passed in South Korea to ensure the speedy processing of documents of returning workers.
The Vice President added that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also signed between the Commission on Filipinos Overseas o CFO and the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
“Layon ng MOU na ito na mas mabigyan ng proteksyon ang mga Pilipino na kasal sa Koreano,” he said.
Binay said there were now more than 50,000 Filipinos living in South Korea, with most of them in the Employment Permit System.
“Natatandaan ko noong huling punta ko dito noong 2010 na talagang organisado ang mga Filipino. Mayroon nang humigit-kumulang na sandaang pangkat mula hilaga sa Yeonpyeong hanggang timog sa Jeju. Sana habang dumarami ang bilang ng mga organisasyon, lalong umiibayo naman ang samahan, sa halip ng nagkakawatak-watak. Sana nagkakaisa ang layunin ng lahat,” he said.
The Vice President is in Seoul to attend the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit as the representative of President Benigno Aquino III.
Binay said he is also in Korea to attend the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and South Korea.
“Ikatlo ng Marso 1949 nang kinilala ng Pilipinas ang South Korea bilang isang malayang bansa. Mahalaga ito sa ating mga kaibigang Koreano sapagkat tayo ang panlima sa mga bansang kumilala sa kanila bilang isang ganap na republika,” he said.
“Kaya pupunta ako sa Goyang City kung saan nakatayo ang bantayog para sa mga pilipinong nagbuwis ng dugo at buhay sa korean war. Kasama ng pamahalaan ng South Korea, pararangalan natin ang malawak at maigting na samahan ng ating dalawang bansa—isang samahan na nagsimula sa panahon ng digmaan at namunga ng isang malalim na ugnayan sa iba’t ibang sektor mula ekonomiya at seguridad hanggang kultura at pamamahala,” he added.
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