Filipinos in Riyadh eye prominent doctor for top OWWA post

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Filipinos in Riyadh eye prominent doctor for top OWWA post

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His name was cited  as one of the acheivers in the Hall of Fame of OFW Acheivers-an anthology of OFW Acheivers in Saudi Arabia, 1990 to 2000. At Riyadh Hospital where he was the medical director, he earned the trust of the Sheik owner due to his unquestionable integrity, loyalty, honest, and impartial dealings, and has been designated to recruit medical staff from different provinces and cities in the Philippines.

He gave free medical treatment and free medicine to OFW workers taking refuge at the Philippine Embassy's OWWA Center particularly those who sought refuge from their Saudi employers due to maltreatment.

Rudy C. Estimo Jr. | Arab News  

RIYADH: Some members of the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia are campaigning for a Saudi-based Dr. Carlito L. Astillero, a pathologist and laboratory director at Al-Missari hospital for the past 21 years, to fill the post vacated by Marianito Roque as administrator of the Overseas Workers  Welfare Administration (OWWA).

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has promoted Roque to the position of secretary of Labor.

The OFW Congress in Riyadh, an umbrella group of different Pinoy groups in Saudi Arabia, is spearheading the petition.

The group will meet on Friday to kick off their campaign worldwide and gather signatures at the same time from the officers of different community organizations.

They are also gathering signatures online at http://petition.online.com/OWWAADMIN/petition.

Once the documents are completed on Friday, they will be sent along with the signatures to Arroyo.

“It is high time that someone from among our OFW leaders be appointed OWWA administrator,” said Francis Oca of the OFW Congress in a letter posted online.

Astillero has worked in Iran, Libya and Saudi Arabia for the last 32 years. He is also the recipient of various awards, including the Special Presidential Award 1996-Banaag at Sikat, the San Lorenzo Ruiz Award for Outstanding OFW (1994), the Bagong Bayani Award (1992), and the Most Outstanding Filipino in Saudi Arabia (1990).

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Astillero had been a recipient of four outstanding awards based on his numerous achievements abroad: 1996 Presidential Awardee for the Banaag Award Category  and 1994 San Lorenzo Ruiz Award as Outstanding OCW, both from then President Fidel Ramos; 1992 Bagong Bayani Award from President Corazon Aquino; and 1990 Most Outstanding Filipino in Saudi Arabia from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.

Mabuhay Ka, Kabayan!!!