New Philippine Consul General of Jeddah from an OFW family

JEDDAH — Philippine officials in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia are expecting improved services for Filipinos in the Kingdom with the arrival of a career foreign service officer.

A product of the UP College of Law, Edgar B. Badajos, arrived in Jeddah on Valentine’s Day and assumed his post as the new Philippine Consul General of Jeddah.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Badajos assured that he will prioritize the welfare of Filipino workers in the country because he himself comes from an OFW family.

he said three of his older brothers were among the first wave of OFWs who came to work in Saudi Arabia in the late 70s.

“Ang mga kapatid ko ang sumuporta at nagpa-aral sa akin nang mamatay ang aming mga magulang. Ang panganay namin ang siya naming naging tatay, kaya malaki ang respeto ko sa mga OFW, dahil hindi biro ang kanilang mga trabaho na nakikipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa para sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” Badajos said.

During the interview, he said the Philippine government is determined to address the plight of distressed Filipino workers.

He cited the increase of the Assistance-to-Nationals Fund and the Legal Assistance Fund as proof of the government’s sincerity in providing timely, effective, and efficient assistance to distressed OFWs.

“Bawat Pilipino na may problema dapat tulungan. Sumusunod tayo sa hamon ng Pangulong Duterte na lahat ng mga Pilipinong may problema dito tulungan natin kaya nilakihan ang pondo ng ating Legal Assistance at Assistance to National Fund.” Badajos said.

A native of Bangued, Abra, Badajos was first assigned as Vice Consul of the Philippine Consulate of Toronto in Canada from 2000 to 2003 and Consul General of New York from 2004 to 2007.

Badajos was also assigned in the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok and served as Minister and Consul General and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) from 2009 to 2015.

Prior to his posting in Jeddah, Badajos served as Director of the Political-Security Division of the Office of ASEAN Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs.  He then led a Philippine delegation in negotiations related to the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea during the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017. —ALG, GMA News