Manila: Continuing a holiday tradition set by his predecessors, President Benigno Aquino is slated to welcome Filipino migrant workers when they return home for the holidays on Monday.
Labour Secretary Rosalinda Dimapiliz-Baldoz said Aquino would greet Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as they arrived in the country at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The President was also expected to give away special prizes to workers arriving from the Middle East (via Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways) and Singapore (Singapore Airlines).
Recognition
The welcome ritual is in recognition of the sacrifices made by migrant workers who inject billions of pesos into the Philippines' economy every year. The event, called the "Presidential Salubong [Welcome]" is part of the activities of the labour department's Christmas Programme which is now in its 18th year.
The programme is a year-end activity expanded this Christmas to cover more OFWs and their families.
The programme started last December 15, 2010, and will end on January 15, 2011.
