Image by World Economic ForumA March 20, 2011 press release prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario met with Bahrain’s Prime Minister Prince Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and his royal family on March 19 to discuss the situation of Filipinos in Bahrain Saturday morning.
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.
He stressed that the situation in Bahrain will become better and that his government will ensure stability and security.
He stressed that the situation in Bahrain will become better and that his government will ensure stability and security.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the Filipinos who continue to work in Bahrain despite the present situation. He spoke highly of them as very hard working, trustworthy, and happy people.
In this regard, he promised that the Bahraini government will work closely with the Philippine government to make the lives of Filipinos in Bahrain even better.
“They deserve good treatment,“ Prime Minister Khalifa said.
“They will be treated like our people. We will make them feel that whatever the Bahraini gets, they will get too,” he added.
He revealed that there are 40 Filipinos working in his household, and that even his grandchildren were raised by Filipinos and know how to speak Tagalog.
Prime Minister Khalifa likewise told Secretary Del Rosario that Bahrain would like to invest in the Philippines, and is interested in having direct flights between Manila and Manama.
Secretary Del Rosario informed him of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s 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 specifically invited Bahrain to consider the private-public partnership (PPP) initiative as an attractive investment vehicle.
The Foreign Affairs Secretary also mentioned that President 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.
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