DUBAI: As the election season sets in and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) once again troop to the polls to engage in an electoral exercise, Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes reminded them to veer away from the traditional notion about politicians giving jobs because, he explained, it is not the government’s task to do so, but rather “come up with an environment that makes it possible.”
Speaking before the Philippine Business Council – Dubai and the Northern Emirates on the first session of its fellowship program, Cortes enjoined the 40 OFWs qualified to undergo training and come up with a sound start-up business plan, to take advantage of this initiative for them to not anymore be employees.
“Marami ang nagtatanong ano ba goal ng gobyerno dito? The role of government is to try and lead the way for our people. Often, makikita sa mga FB comments na dapat gobyerno ay magbigay (ng trabaho). We have developed that sort of mentality na kailangan ihain lahat para sa ating mga kababyan yung mga necessary resource para kayo ay lumago.
“Hindi po trabaho ng gobyerno ang magbigay ng trabaho. That’s a private sector initiative – to come up with businesses, industries; create jobs and employment. It is the job of government to come up with an environment that makes that possible,” Cortes said.
The eight-month Fellowship program, which is in its pilot stage, aims to train and provide financial support to the applicants who have passed elimination rounds. LBC Express provided Dh50,000 – Dh30,000 as a start-up grant and Dh20,000 for operations.
The event was held April 5 at Swissotel Al Ghurair in Deira,
