By Ricky Laxa
Staff Writer
Philippine Labor Attaché in Kuwait, the Honorable Nasser Mustafa received the Media Transparency Award from the Filipino Journalists in Kuwait. Friday night at the Radisson Blu Hotel.
In a simple dinner hosted celebration Michelle Fe ‘Maxxy’ Santiago Head of ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau Freelance Reporter/Arab Times Media Director – Pinoy Arabia ME, Ricky Laxa News Correspondent – GMA-7 Reporter, The Times Kuwait Journalist, Ben Garcia Senior Reporter – Kuwait Times and Station Manager of Pinoy Arabia ME and Robert Balquiren, ABS CBN News Correspondent presented the award.
The Media Transparency Award is given by Filipino Journalists to officials who have rendered for years admirable integrity, steadfast commitment to government transparency, openness to the media, upholding the tenets of good governance and above all, being a trustworthy partner of the media in the promotion of welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers in Kuwait.
Among the past awardees were Labor Attaché David Des Dicang (July 2013), Vice Consul Atty. Shiena Red Escoto-Tesorero (February 2016), Philippine Embassy Assistance to Nationals Unit Attaché Francis Baquiran (September 2017) and Welfare Officer Atty. Llewelyn Perez (2021).
The Philippine Labor Attaché ended his tenure in the recent week, however The Filipino community in Kuwait appeals to the Migrant Workers Department via news, public affairs, and social media avenues to extend Mustafa’s tenure until such time a qualified official is available to assume the post. Mustafa is the only labor attaché who managed to maintain the Philippine shelter with less than 10 distressed workers. Media correspondents with some OFWs in Kuwait voiced their opinions via ABS CBN Global news their appeal to retain Mustafa as he is a qualified official who has experience in handling such concerns and refrain from appointing first timer officials who have no knowledge and familiarity with OFWs cases in Kuwait.
The Philippine shelter in Kuwait was visited by two Philippine officials after an old video was posted by a Filipino vlogger and circulated in social media causing alarm due to the video displayed congestion and unhealthy conditions for the workers. The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait will take on new premises in Sabah Al Salem area where two buildings will be rented to accommodate all services of the embassy including consular, labor and attached agencies.
