President Rodrigo Duterte saluted overseas Filipino worker (OFWs) during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig.
In his speech, Duterte honored OFWs who endure the hardships of working away from their homeland to provide the needs of their loved ones while contributing to the national development.
“We also recognize the thousands of ordinary citizens—our everyday heroes, who continue to make sacrifices for the welfare of their families and the advancement of our communities,” he said in a statement.
Dubbed as the modern day heroes, OFWs are considered the lifeline of the Philippine Economy. OFW remittances make up for 10 percent of the gross domestic product.
In 2017, OFWs from Middle East remitted $5.4 billion to their families in the Philippines.
Apart from OFWs, he urged everyone to pay respect to the everyday heroes who helped bring the nation together, such as the volunteers, police officers, educators, and ordinary Filipinos who strive to make a difference.
