Press Release - Advancing migrant workers' welfare, Bong Go meets with OFW groups in London

Upon the invitation of the British Group Inter-Parliament Union, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go joined Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Grace Poe as they represented the Philippine Senate during an official visit to the United Kingdom from October 16 to 18.

The visit, led by SP Zubiri and Sen. Poe as co-heads of delegation, was Go's first visit to the UK. The invitation was aimed at strengthening relations of the Philippine Senate with its parliament counterparts in UK through a series of dialogues to exchange best practices in policymaking while strengthening bilateral relations, fostering economic security, and exploring areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Go, who is Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers and member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, also maximized the visit to highlight efforts in promoting the welfare of more than 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UK particularly the more or less 40,000 Filipino nurses working there.

On October 19, after his official functions, Go was invited by OFW groups who are members of the Filipino community in the UK to a meet-and-greet at the Romulo Café & Restaurant in London. The groups were comprised of Filipinos working and residing in London who came from various parts of the Philippines. Some were fellow Davaoenyos, Ilocanos, Bicolanos, Ilonggos, among others, including those from Filipino Muslim communities.

While witnessing the camaraderie of the Filipino community there, he provided tokens to the OFW leaders present. He expressed, "ikinagalak ko na makasama kayo ngayon. Kung anuman ang maitutulong ko, nandito po ako na handang magserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya."

"Actually, this is my first time to be here sa London, sa United Kingdom. Isinama po ako ni SP Migz Zubiri, we had a fruitful meeting with our counterparts sa parliament dito," Go shared.

"We had the opportunity to meet with the Speaker of the Lords and the Speaker of the Commons. At marami po kaming natutunan," he shared.

He took this opportunity to highlight the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), a