RIYADH, 9 May 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held talks Sunday night with visiting Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The talks took place after the state dinner hosted by the king at Al-Yamamah Palace.

Arroyo discussed with King Abdullah the great opportunities awaiting Saudi businessmen in southern Philippines; she hoped that oil profits would be reinvested there.

“In this time of very volatile oil (prices), we invite the Saudi business community ... to recycle its profits from the oil trade in the form of direct investments in the Philippines,” she said.

Albert B. Asuque, spokesman of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, told Arab News, “King Abdullah told President Arroyo that he will convey to Saudi businessmen her request.”

Arroyo thanked Abdullah for extending assistance to distressed OFWs (Offshore Filipino Workers). The king has pardoned 50 female OFWs in different jails, according to Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.

She reiterated her request for Saudi support for the Philippines bid for observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Yesterday, Arroyo and her delegation paid a visit to Riyadh Governor Prince Salman and thanked him for the consideration shown to OFWs in the Kingdom. Prince Salman, for his part, spoke favorably about OFWs contributions in the Kingdom.

“They are highly regarded because of their work ethics. They used to have blue-collar jobs. Now many are highly skilled workers. Many of them are also working as professionals,” Prince Salman said.

Arroyo and her delegation also visited the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) headquarters where Governor Amr Al-Dabbagh received them.

They explored various business partnerships between the two countries and discussed ways to improve the investment flow

Al-Dabbagh highlighted SAGIA’s strategy along with the various investment sectors as well as regional development efforts. He discussed investment laws and regulations in the Kingdom.

The delegation also attended a presentation on the King Abdullah Economic City and related investment opportunities.

SAGIA, which provides services and facilities to promote investment and economic development in the Kingdom, issued five investment licenses last year to Philippine projects in Saudi Arabia worth SR5.1 billion.

From the SAGIA headquarters, Arroyo and her delegation proceeded to the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI).

Abdul Rahman R. Al-Rashed, CSCCI chairman, in his welcome address, expressed happiness over the visit of Arroyo and her delegation. Arroyo also addressed the gathering, which included 32 Filipino businessmen who met later in the afternoon for possible business deals with Saudi counterparts.

The Filipino delegation included a Saudi, Khalid D. Al-Faddagh, who is the president and CEO of Petron Corp.

As part of Arroyo’s visit, Labor Secretary Patricia Tomas opened a joint project of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Microsoft Saudi Arabia yesterday afternoon. Tomas and OWWA Administrator Marianito A. Roque at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) inside the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) are members of Arroyo’s delegation.

Tomas represents the labor sector while Roque is concerned with affairs of the OFWs.

“The joint project aims to develop the full potentials of OFWs who are willing to train for free in different modules, like spreadsheet, presentation and Internet,” Welfare Officer Merto Mercado told Arab News.

Last night, Arroyo met the OFWs in Riyadh. She listened to their complaints and suggestions for the benefit of Filipino workers in the Kingdom. After that, she had an audience with the Filipino community leaders.

Alex Veloso Bello, president of the umbrella group OFW Congress, presented a resolution signed by 35 leaders of various organizations in Riyadh. It presented a ten-point plan:

1. The creation of an OFW consultative council composed of deserving OFW leaders worldwide and OFW advocates at home.

2. The institutionalization of a pension program for OFWs for the benefit of old Filipino workers returning to their country.

3. The hiring of additional case officers, translators and lawyers.

4. Increasing the budget of the Bahay Kalinga for the daily expenses and repatriation of the distressed female workers.

5. The creation of a “Haj Attache Office” in Saudi Arabia.

6. Subsidy for the operation of an OFW community school.

7. Doing away with the private recruitment agencies and making the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) the sole agency that handles the deployment of OFWs.

8. Providing OFWs satellite viewing of the government-owned TV Channel 4 like other nationals who receive free transmission from their respective countries.

9. Reconsideration of the transfer of PHP1-billion fund to Philippine Postal Savings Bank and create an OFW Bank instead.

10. Streamlining of the government OFW-reintegration program.