Sara Duterte thanks Singapore gov't for taking care of OFWs

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday attended  several events in Singapore as part of her duties as council president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).

According to a report by Ian Cruz on "24 Oras," Duterte paid a courtesy call to Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long where she expressed gratitude for looking after the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.

“Para magpasalamat unang una, for taking care of the well-being ng mga Filipinos who are living and working here in Singapore,” she told the Singaporean officials.

Duterte visited the Singapore Mandai Wildlife Reserve to lead the opening of the Philippine Aviary in its Bird Paradise.

On Philippine Independence Day on June 12, sambisig and geothermica, a pair of captive-bred Philippine eagles were turned over to the wildlife reserve as part of conservation efforts of endangered species.

She also visited the SEAMEO Regional Language Center and met teacher Aileen Bajaro of Catanduanes National High School, who is currently studying in Singapore under the SEAMEO program.

Duterte was accompanied by a Grade 8 student, Naomi, from Bacolod City, in Brunei and Singapore. She is part of the "You can be VP program," which aims to show selected students the vice president in action.

“Hindi ko po inakala na makakalabas pa ako sa Pilipinas kasi yung iba mga tao ‘di nakakalabas sa bansa pero binigyan po ako ng chance na makasama dito. Makapunta sa Singapore tsaka sa Brunei,” Naomi said. 

Duterte also spoke to the Temasek Foundation Singapore, which for many years has collaborated with the private and public sectors for solutions that have improved people's lives, including the Philippines.

“They've been very generous during the COVID-19 pandemic. They save lives, Filipino lives in the Philippines. We are here to express our appreciation for that,” Duterte said.

With an estimated 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Singapore, Duterte is  also scheduled to appear at the gathering with the Filipino community at the Orchard Hotel.

“Nakapakahalaga po ng ating meet and greet ng ating fellow Filipinos dito sa Singapore dahil tinataas nila ang bandera ng Pilipinas dito sa ibang bansa,” she said.

Meanwhile, in a press statement, Duterte said she also met with Singapore Second Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman discussed the negative effects of wearing face mask on the learning development of children.

A study conducted by the Singapore government showed that said wearing face mask lowers the students' self-confidence.

"Napag-usapan din namin ang kahalagahan ng mental health protection at ang pagtuturo sa kanila ng 21st century skills upang mapaghandaan ang hamon ng globalisasyon," Duterte said.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News