DC Town Hall Gathers Filipino Local Hires, Household Service Workers

Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez delivers an inspirational message at a town hall meeting and fellowship event for Filipino nationals who are working as local hires and household service workers at the different diplomatic missions and international organizations in Washington, D.C. on 22 September 2018 at the Carlos P. Romulo Hall, Philippine Embassy. (Washington PE photo)

WASHINGTON, D.C. 01 October 2018 – The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Washington DC (POLO-WDC), organized a town hall meeting and fellowship event for Filipino nationals who are working as local hires and household service workers (HSWs) at the different diplomatic missions and international organizations in Washington, D.C. at the Carlos P. Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy in Washington on 22 September 2018. 

The gathering provided an opportunity for this specific set of Filipino workers in the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area to meet and dialogue with Embassy officials about their issues and concerns. 

In his inspirational message, Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez emphasized the Philippine Government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the welfare of kababayans overseas. He expressed pride in representing the Filipino people who have earned the trust and high esteem of Americans and their foreign employers in the United States.

“Lagi natin gawin ang tama at sumunod sa batas. Ang magandang imahe ng mga Filipino sa Amerika ay nakakatulong sa ating lahat na maitaguyod ang inyong kapakanan (We should always do what is right and obey laws. The good reputation of Filipinos in America help us in protecting your welfare),” Ambassador Romualdez told the audience.

The town hall featured a panel of speakers that included newly-arrived Philippine Consul General Renato Villa, who assured the Filipino workers that the Embassy stands ready to extend assistance if needed; Welfare Officer Josephine Tobia who gave a briefing on Overseas Workers Welfare Administration's programs; Economic Minister Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga who shared the good news about the sustained growth of the Philippine economy and encouraged investments from Filipino overseas workers; and the main organizer, Labor Attaché Angela Librado-Trinidad, who explained POLO's mandate and contract verification processes. The speakers engaged the participants in a question and answer session after the formal remarks.

“Engaging in outreach activities and open dialogues with Filipino workers are critical components of our work at POLO. We want to make sure that our services continue to be relevant and responsive to the needs of our kababayans and that they have access to the services and resources of POLO should the need arise,” Labor Attaché Angela Librado-Trinidad said. END

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