Discover : How Is It Like Living an OFW’s LIfe

In PTV’s Facebook account, Sec. Martin Andanar, the Secretary for the Presidential Communications Operations Office has tackled the real situation of Filipino overseas workers in Dubai. He personally visited the place where they live and concludes that being an OFW isn’t really what most people think of as having a comfortable, luxurious life abroad.

Secretary Andanar went to Deira, the heart and soul of the Filipino community in Dubai. He said there are about 460,000 OFWs in Dubai, 40% among them are professionals, 40% working in the service sector like malls and restaurants and the remaining 20% are domestic helpers.

According to Andanar, there are many Filipinos living decently in Dubai but sadly, there are also some who are distressed for experiencing abuse from employers, low salary and inadequate food supply.

In a heartfelt speech of President Rodrigo Duterte before a group of OFWs, he said a mother had to leave the country to work abroad, endures the hardship and long hours of working, eat what was almost considered as garbage and working their backs to death.

Some of them were victims of abuse and brutality, of rape and maltreatment from their employer yet, they all make sacrifices in order to survive and just to be able to send money to their families they leave behind in the Philippines.  Though they were poor in other countries, at least their children are able to study.

President Duterte added that that’s the most painful part of being an OFW. They sacrifice so much amidst too much work, less sleep, less food just to be able to provide for their families.  He also said that it is part of his agony and sorrow being the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Please watch the video and be enlightened on the real-life situation of our modern day heroes.