5 September 2017 – As part of his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano met with members of the Filipino community on August 27 at the premises of the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Around 100 Filipino community members in Malaysia were present to welcome Secretary Cayetano, who was in the country to show support to Filipino athletes during the recently-concluded 29^th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in the Malaysian capital, and to represent the Philippines at the turnover ceremony as the chairman of the 30^th SEA Games Organizing Committee.  The Philippines will host the next SEA Games in 2019.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Charles Jose welcomed the Secretary and thanked the Filipino community members for attending the community meeting.

During the meeting, Secretary Cayetano shared developments in the country related to them, such as streamlining passport processing in the Department of Foreign Affairs and increase in budget to help out Filipinos in distress, as well as President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment on good governance and crime prevention, and on improving the lives of Filipinos.

He also reminded the Filipino community to show the best of the Philippines and the Filipino in their host country, and to constantly think of improving themselves and their families through continuous education and training, and to prepare for their eventual return and integration to the Philippines.

The Foreign Affairs Secretary also held an open forum with the community, where he fielded questions on consular services, labor contracts and other related issues, such as SSS benefits.  He also provided updates on the taxes to be imposed on balikbayan boxes sent by Filipinos from overseas, as well as the imminent implementation of the OFW ID.

Secretary Cayetano also had the chance to meet with the officers of the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia (FFAM) during the lunch hosted by the Embassy. END