Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla vowed to push for a bigger 2025 budget allocation for the Philippine Embassy in the Czech Republic as the foreign country welcomes more Filipinos to enter its workforce.
Padilla made the statement at a recent Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar and Consular Outreach for overseas Filipino workers at the Imperial Hotel Ostrava, where he also cited the “equal pay” policy of the Czech government.
“Pagdating sa budget, hindi ko kayo kokontrahin… baka hingin pa natin na tumaas (When it comes to your budget for 2025, I will not air any objection. I may even ask for a bigger budget for you),” he said.
Following the state visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to the Czech Republic last March, an agreement was forged to allow the entry of some 10,000 Filipino workers to the Czech Republic every year. At present, there are at least 7,000 skilled Filipino workers who may avail of “equal pay” in the Czech Republic.
“Siyempre makakausap natin ang embassy natin, kung pupunta dito 10,000 (na manggagawa), mas marami dapat sa embassy. Dapat magdagdag ang DFA ng tao dito (We will talk to our embassy – if 10,000 Filipinos can enter the Czech Republic every year, the embassy will need more personnel. The Department of Foreign Affairs should have more people),” Padilla added.
Meanwhile, Padilla hailed the strong and deep ties between the Philippines and Czech Republic, even as he voiced optimism the bond will continue to grow. Padilla, who visited the Czech Republic to observe how it regulates the use of medical cannabis, noted that while diplomatic ties between the two countries started on Oct. 5, 1973, their relationship dates back to the 19th century.
“The Philippines commits to further deepening its relationship by fostering economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and strategic partnerships with the Czech Republic,” he stressed in a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in recognizing the strong ties between the two countries, to be filed this week.
According to Padilla, it was in Litoměřice, a town that was once part of Austria, then Czechoslovakia, that Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal solidified a friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt, a schoolmaster there. He noted Blumentritt played a significant role in our revolution against Spanish colonialism, as he was believed to have encouraged and even donated money for the publication of Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere,” which triggered the Filipinos’ movement for independence.
He also noted there are some 7,026 Filipinos now in the Czech Republic engaged in the processing industry, automotive, repair of appliances, manufacturing, IT communications, real estate, health or wellness, and household service work.
It can be recalled that during the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the Czech Republic last March, heads of both states witnessed the signing of a joint communique for a labor consultation mechanism; and the signing of memorandums of understanding between Philippine and Czech business leaders to promote trade and investment.
