Millions of Filipinos from all over the world and in different time zones eagerly awaited President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s turn to address the United Nations during the 75th General Assembly in New York for the first time since he took office. And, much to the pride of our countrymen, the President delivered a historic and momentous message to the leaders of the free world.

President Duterte highlighted the unprecedented threat of the COVID-19 pandemic — an invisible enemy that “knows no border, nationality, race, gender, age, or creed”. The President then touched on the topics of global health agenda, COVID-19 vaccine, and call for stability in the face of geopolitical tensions.

The President proceeded to bring the house down when he affirmed the 2016 South China Sea UN Arbitral Ruling in favor of the Philippines. He said:

“The Philippines affirms that commitment in the South China Sea in accordance with UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The Award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon.

We firmly reject attempts to undermine it.”

Having made his unrelenting stance on the Arbitral Award, the President rallied forth:

“We welcome the increasing number of states that have come in support of the award and what it stands for — the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition. This – as it should – is the majesty of the law.”

These statements are the strongest assertions of the Philippines against the People’s Republic of China on the hotly contested topic of territorial dispute. And, the President chose to deliver them at the biggest and highest international arena. China, and the rest of the world, are put on notice that the Philippines shall not surrender an inch of land or sand; nor shall we relent on our rightful seas and waters.

Another very important subject of the President’s speech that has tugged at the heartstrings of the more than 10 million Filipino migrants around the world is the mention of their plight in the time of COVID-19. The President extended the grief of the Filipino people for the dead victims of the pandemic, and also honored the living —especially the frontliners who have put their lives on the line even in countries not their own.

The President eloquently described how COVID-19 affected OFWs. To further quote:

“Filipino migrant workers have been devastated by the pandemic. Many have lost not only their livelihood, but also their health and lives as well. Yet they go on in the frontlines, healing, caring for others in the different parts of the world.

The Philippine Government has embarked on an unprecedented repatriation program. More than 345,000 overseas Filipino workers needed to come home then.

We have brought back half and are bringing back the rest.

We thank the countries that have provided Filipino migrants with residence permits, access to testing, treatment and related health services in this pandemic.

We brought back most of our seafarers who were stranded because of COVID19 restrictions. We pioneered with the IMO the Green Lane for safe changes of seafaring crews.

In these times, we need stronger cooperation in promoting and protecting the rights of migrants, regardless of their migrant status.”

Putting the plight of our migrant workers front and center of the Philippine agenda in the UN General Assembly by the President brings honor to the noble sacrifices of our countrymen; and reaffirms the gold standard of protection that the Philippines accords to its modern day heroes: our migrant workers, who are all close to the President’s heart. Our OFWs are indeed in a class of their own — renowned for their courage, compassion, and commitment to service in all parts of the world.

The Philippines is a champion of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The GCM, which was signed in December 2018, is the first, inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. As of this writing, there still remains no other head of State that has mentioned the GCM in the 75th General Assembly other than President Duterte, who called on states to “adhere to the Global Compact” and “include all migrants in their response to this pandemic”.

One of the cross-cutting and interrelated guiding principles of the GCM is human rights. Human rights in the GCM is elucidated in this manner:

“The Global Compact is based on international human rights law and upholds the principles of non-regression and non-discrimination. By implementing the Global Compact, we ensure effective respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, across all stages of the migration cycle. We also reaffirm the commitment to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including racism, xenophobia and intolerance against migrants and their families.”

Many have criticized the Duterte administration for alleged human rights issues particularly extrajudicial killings. However, many may have forgotten that migration is also a human rights issue. The Philippine migration narrative under the Duterte administration shows the State as a protector rather than a violator. An advocate rather than an oppressor. A defender rather than an antagonist.

The Philippines has always valued migrant rights but no other administration truly cared and fought for the rights of its migrants than the present administration. While past administrations played lip service and valued our migrants for election votes, the Duterte administration walked the talk and has gone through great lengths in protecting our OFWs. From the war-torn countries in the Middle East and Africa, to the Gulf region where most of our temporary migrants toil, and to the halls of the United Nations where we have taken by the horns issues like human trafficking and khafala, the Duterte government has truly served and delivered for our migrant workers.

As COVID-19 continues to rage and with the vaccine’s availability still months away, the Philippines continues to bring home all its migrants in distress - by land or by sea; at the behest of our President who has not and will never give up on our migrant workers. Our UN statement delivered by no less than the President is not mere rhetoric. It speaks of the agenda of his administration for the next 650 days or so — that it stands to serve without fail or falter. Finally, it also speaks of the President’s heart: his values, his goals, and his dreams for his people.