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MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ Proclamation No. 243, February 8, 2000 ]

DECLARING THE YEAR 2000 AS “THE YEAR OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs)” IN RECOGNITION OF THE DETERMINATION AND SUPREME SELF-SACRIFICE OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS

WHEREAS, the present Administration has hailed OFWs as the countrys modern day heroes because of their exemplary qualities of hard work, determination and self-sacrifice;

WHEREAS, the overseas workers play a very important role in strengthening our countrys foreign currency reserve by way of remitting portions of their dollar earnings into our banking system, thereby alleviating the economic turbulence being experienced as a result of the worlds ever changing economic pattern;

WHEREAS, the estimated seven million Filipino OFWs have significantly contributed to the cushioning of the impact of the recent Asian regional crisis on our domestic economy through their annual remittances;

WHEREAS, sacrificing the comforts of home and their loved ones, these modern day heroes fostered goodwill among many countries in the world and placing the Philippines in the international arena as a leading supplier of skilled manpower;

WHEREAS, for their effective role and contribution to the countrys economic efforts towards globalization and the advent of the new millennium, the overseas Filipino workers deserve to be recognized and honored;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the Year 2000 as “THE YEAR OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs).”

I call upon all government agencies, concerned non-governmental organizations and the citizenry to lend their full support and cooperation in the observance of the year of overseas Filipino workers whose unselfishness and contributions to the nation must be acknowledged with gratitude.1aшphi1

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 8Th day of February, in the year of our Lord, two thousand

(Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA

By the President :

RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary

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