October 7, 2024

Her Excellency Deena Joy Amatong, Philippine Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), discusses the vibrant Filipino diaspora in Laos, which is home to around 2,000 professionals, including educators, engineers and lawyers.

Despite challenges such as the prevalence of online scams, particularly in Southeast Asia, the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane has been proactive in assisting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking to avail of the government’s repatriation program. To date, over 240 Filipinos have been repatriated since 2021.

As Laos hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits for the third time, anticipation is growing for President Marcos Jr.’s visit, during which he will engage with the Filipino community in a special event showcasing Filipino talents in Laos.

In 2025, the Philippines and Lao PDR will celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations that were formally established on January 14, 1955.

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