04 August 2015 - PTV 4 host Maria Veronica Baluyut interviewed Minister and Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo on the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Myanmar and conditions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working in Myanmar. The interview will be aired in PTV 4 program Bridging Borders on its telecast on September 07 at 8:00 p.m. (Manila time). Ms. Baluyut said that Myanmar will be the first country in Asia to be featured in the program.
The one-hour program focuses on Philippine relationship with other countries in the world which highlights interests for Global Pinoy such as jobs, culture, immigration, visa concerns and country attractions
“Myanmar is an exciting country as it has started to opened up to the world from 2011 after more than five decades of isolation. There are still many traditional customs and ways of doing things, like men wearing longyi (or sarong) and chewing betel nut. More importantly, the political and economic reforms are fascinating and at the same time challenging. Both countries belong to ASEAN and are hastening regional cooperation to build an ASEAN Community. In 2014, Myanmar chaired ASEAN for the first time,” Consul Salcedo told Ms. Baluyut.
The Philippines and Myanmar established diplomatic relations in September 1956. Next year, the two countries will celebrate 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Consul General Salcedo also told Ms. Baluyut that there may be over 1500 OFWs now living and working in Myanmar. They comprise mostly of engineers in telecoms, gas and oil and manufacturing industries as well as supervisors in marketing firms and hotels, teachers and musicians. “There are more male OFWs than female ones in Myanmar. The Embassy has an active registration program for OFWs,” she added. END