OFWs to participate in Afghan rehab

Vice President Teofisto Guingona has ordered the ambassador to Pakistan to lay the groundwork for the participation of Filipino contractors and workers in the United Nations-funded program for the rehabilitation of Afghanistan.

Guingona, also the foreign secretary, said Filipino engineers, contractors, builders and workers can participate in the rehabilitation of Afghanistan.

"There are many employment opportunities and the program calls for the aid through the UN of a substantial amount so there is no reason why the Philippines (cannot participate in this)," he said.

He added that the Philippine construction industry is highly regarded in many parts of the world.

"Therefore, our engineers, contractors, workers should be able to participate and I have asked Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan George Arrizabal to lay the groundwork and see what are the requirements for the participation of Filipino workers," he said.

Arrizabal will officially discuss and arrange for the job-generating opportunities in Afghanistan after the holidays.

The government, according to Guingona, sent yesterday its official recognition of the new interim government of Afghanistan after the fall of the five-year-old Taliban regime.

"There is no reason for not recognizing. It is a new interim government supposed to just lay down the basis then there will be a new government in place in representation of the Afghan people. This is sponsored by the UN," he stressed.

The downfall of the Taliban regime, which harbored international terrorist Osama bin Laden, became inevitable after the militia lost key cities and strongholds as a result of intense bombing by the US-led coalition and subsequent fielding of ground troops.

The military strikes began Oct. 7 but late last week American special operations teams quietly made their way to the mountains of Tora Bora where the last of Bin Laden’s forces are believed trapped.

Guingona noted that the government is considering establishing diplomatic ties with Afghanistan in the future. But in the absence of diplomatic ties at present, Guingona said the country’s ambassador to Pakistan can service Philippine interests in that neighboring state.

In establishing ties with Afghanistan, the Philippine envoy to Pakistan should be accredited by the Kabul government.