MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay underscored Wednesday the importance of his two-nation trip to the Middle East as it would give him the opportunity to tackle head-on the issues affecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.

Binay, who acts as the Presidential Adviser on OFW concerns, left for Qatar on Tuesday night. From there, the official will proceed to Saudi Arabia on Friday, April 1.

“As you very well know, at least 1.5 million OFWs are in Saudi Arabia, and some 200,000 in Qatar, mostly in Doha. Since I became the chief presidential adviser on OFW Concerns, the leaders of the Filipino communities in these countries have been asking for this visit. It has always been my intention to personally seek the views of our OFWs on issues affecting them in order to provide our President with policy recommendations guided by the sentiments of our kababayans (countrymen),” he said.

Binay said that President Aquino gave him special instructions to take up with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar the “wide-ranging issues of mutual importance to our respective countries, and with special emphasis on matters related to the well-being of our Overseas Filipino Workers.”

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of OFWs in any single country in the Middle East. Binay said the oil-rich nation has been a major ally in the efforts to bring peace and development to Muslim Mindanao.

The Vice President said that recent developments such as the unrest in countries across the Middle East and North Africa made his trip even more pressing.

“Amid the unrest that has shaken the Middle East and North Africa, Saudi Arabia continues to provide the necessary stability and leadership in the region. Our government is happy to support Saudi Arabia, not only for the sake of the region but also for the sake of our countrymen who have chosen to make Saudi Arabia their second home,” he said.

Binay said that he would also be extending the deep appreciation of the President and the rest of the Filipino people to King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz for his benevolence in extending Royal Pardon to Filipino nationals in the past years.

“It is our hope that a similar pardon will again be extended by his Excellency this year.”

Meanwhile, Binay said he is aware of the concerns raised by the Saudi government on certain labor policies covering OFWs. “My visit will afford us the opportunity to discuss these concerns with the intent of further strengthening our relations and addressing issues affecting Filipino workers.”

He further said that Qatar, the first stop in his trip, is equally important as Saudi Arabia.

Binay is scheduled to return to Manila on April 5, his spokesperson Joey Salgado said.