President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the Filipino community of the continued bilateral partnership between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a legacy that his father and namesake, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., has started in the 1980s.

In his speech during his visit to the Filipino community in Riyadh on Friday evening, President Marcos emphasized that he will continue the good relationship forged by his father with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which, until now, is being enjoyed by Filipino workers in the Middle East.

“And I, as his son, and now as President will continue in the tradition,” President Marcos said as he recalled his father’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1982, making him the first Philippine President to visit the Middle East country.

“Ipagpapatuloy po natin, at ‘yan po ang naging bahagi sa ating pagpunta rito ay para kausapin ulit ang ating mga kaibigan dito sa Saudi Arabia at hindi lamang sa Saudi Arabia kung hindi dito sa Middle East upang tiyakin na ang kalagayan naman ng ating mga mamayan, ng ating mga Pilipino ay nasa mabuti,” the President added.

The chief executive also emphasized that the governments of the Philippines and Saudi Arabia have always opened their lines to discuss whatever issues that may arise between the two countries especially on the welfare and concerns of the OFWs and the Filipino community.

President Marcos said his father visited Saudi Arabia in 1982 where he met his majesty King Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to renew the good relations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia and to reassure the Kingdom that both countries will remain good friends.

The Philippines recognized the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on November 15, 1949 and both countries established diplomatic relations on October 24, 1969. The two countries will mark the 54th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year. PND