Vice President Sara Duterte commended the resilience and economic contributions of the Filipino diaspora in the United Kingdom during a gathering with the local Filipino community in London on Saturday, calling on them to embody courage and compassion.
Addressing attendees, Duterte expressed appreciation for the sacrifices made by overseas workers, highlighting their critical role in supporting the Philippine economy.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo palagi sa ating mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at sa Filipino migrants dahil alam naman natin na ang dollars ninyo ang pinakamalaking remittance sa Pilipinas,” Duterte said.
The Vice President emphasized the need for unity and reform to ensure that working abroad becomes a choice for future generations rather than a financial necessity.
“Ayaw natin na 70 years from now ang ating mga anak ay tulad ng ating mga overseas Filipinos ngayon na 16 hours na nagtatrabaho para lang masuportahan ang pamilyang naiwan sa Pilipinas. Mga kababayan, ibalik natin ang tapang at malasakit,” Duterte said.
Duterte lamented the widespread trend of Filipinos aspiring to go overseas just to find better livelihoods, stressing that domestic opportunities should be provided at home.
”Ang normal na lang para sa mga Pilipino ang pangarap na mag-abroad. Mali yan. Dahil dapat ang sariling bansa mismo natin ang nagbibigay sa atin ng oportunidad,” she added.
She also criticized systemic corruption and self-interest among public officials, pointing to these issues as key factors driving economic hardship.
”Dahil napakaraming ‘buwaya’ sa Pilipinas,” Duterte said. “Ang nangyari sa ating mga Pilipino, nagkanya-kanya tayo. Yung mga nakaupo, umangat, nagkaroon, nakapangyarihan, naging makasarili.”
The London engagement is part of the Vice President’s official international trip from July 16 to 31, which covers visits to Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.