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Duterte arrives in Jordan for historic visit
President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Jordan on Wednesday afternoon (evening in Manila) for a historic trip aimed at boosting relations between the two countries.
The plane that carried Duterte and his delegation from Israel touched down at the Queen Alia International Airport in the Jordanian capital of Amman at 5:17 p.m. (10:17 p.m. in Manila).
His September 5 to 8 visit to Jordan is the first by a Filipino president since the two countries established ties in 1976.
The President will meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and then he will attend a business forum on Thursday.
Some $10 million worth of business deals are expected to be signed between Filipino and Jordanian firms, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.
Also to be signed are government-to-government agreements involving foreign affairs, labor and defense.
The proposed labor agreement, for instance, establishes the proper procedures for the recruitment, deployment and arrival of Filipino domestic workers in Jordan through licensed Jordanian recruitment agencies in partnership with licensed Philippine recruitment agencies.
"The agreement provides that the recruitment and employment of Filipino domestic workers will be governed by a standard employment contract and other measures that will ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of workers," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said at a press briefing on August 30.
Abella would not say if the proposed labor deal with Jordan will be similar to the one the Philippines had with Kuwait.
There are around 40,000 overseas Filipino workers in Jordan as of last year, according to government data.
Duterte will cap off his visit to the Hashemite Kingdom with a meet and greet with the Filipino community on Friday before he leaves for Davao City on Saturday. — BAP, GMA News
