Manama: Filipinos in Qatar have expressed high hopes that the new Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino would honour his inaugural speech pledge to reform the government from corruption and look after their welfare.
Frank Jamandre, Chairman of Filipino Nurses Association in Qatar (FNAQ), welcomed the new president's commitment for change by leading himself as an example not to use his power to gain special privilege.
In his inaugural speech, Aquino has vowed not to use sirens on his presidential car if only to have access to free flow of traffic.
"I hope he would make good to his promise to weed out corruption in government," Jamandre said, quoted by Qatari daily The Peninsula.
"My one wish list to the new president: Let Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have direct access to your office where they can send substantiated complaints and grievances from misdeeds and inefficiencies they discovered from diplomatic missions and labour attaches."
Banjo Patron, President of Samahang Batangueno in Qatar, was more particular on the welfare of OFWs as he expects improved benefits extended by the government.
He also wished that a law be passed in Congress that will give a fair and decent retirement privilege to OFWs considering that a big bulk of their remittances helped the economy of the country, the daily said.
"I hope that he will not taint the good name of his family whom his father and mother have stood for," said Brian Padre, relationship officer at Mashreq Bank, referring to the new president's father, former senator Benigno whose death in 1983 was the turning point in ousting the late Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos and his mother former president Corazon who symbolizes the People Power Revolution in 1986, taking office.
Padre said that he looked forward to Aquino having the right people that will work with him and who "are always ready to help the needy and the less privileged."
Noli Perez, an official of Aguman Kapampangan, hoped the new administration would find immediate ways for more employment opportunities to a growing number of Filipinos who have no work and those who are underemployed.
He asked Aquino to review the plans to add two more years for the school curriculum saying this would only add burden to most parents whose family income is still below the poverty line.
