10 May 2011

Repatriation of overstaying OFWs in Jeddah in full swing

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that as of May 8, it has assisted in the repatriation of 972 Filipinos out of the 1,160 staying at the Consulate-operated Hajj Terminal facility since January 24.

In 2009, the total number of Filipinos who were repatriated through this arrangement reached 815 and the Philippine Government repatriated 1,429 at its expense in 2010. These figures do not include other Filipinos who were assisted by the Consulate through the regular Saudi deportation and repatriation procedures.
 The Hajj Terminal operations is a special arrangement made by the Philippine Government with Saudi authorities for the repatriation of overstaying Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. This started in September 2009 after representations by the Consulate with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the approval of the Office of the Emir of Makkah to address the cases of Filipinos staying under the Sitteen Khandara overpass in hope of an expedited deportation proceeding.

They are brought to and are sheltered at the Hajj Terminal while awaiting the provision of their ticket and the processing of their exit papers.
The use of the facilities at the Hajj Terminal are paid by the Consulate at 15 Saudi Riyals (SR) a day per person.

The last pick-ups by the authorities from the facility included 100 females and 47 minors on May 6, and 67 males on May 8.

“Unfortunately, this special arrangement may be stopped as the Saudi authorities stated that they would only resume admission of overstayers once Filipinos who have camped out in a lot adjacent to the Consulate return to the Hajj Terminal,” the Consulate said.

About 200 Filipinos camped in the vacant lot beside the Consulate on April 25, but the number eventually decreased to about 50 as of May 5. The presence of this group is delaying the transfer of the Filipinos at the Hajj Terminal to the Deportation Center, and may lead to the rebooking or cancellation of their flight and the expiry of their travel documents.

The Consulate has constantly urged the Filipinos camped at the vacant lot beside the Consulate to return to the Hajj Terminal so as not to hamper the terminal operations.

Earlier in February, Saudi immigration authorities stated it will no longer make any pick-up at any point other than the Hajj Terminal.

The arrangement with the Saudi authorities for the Hajj Terminal is as follows:
  • Filipinos who overstayed in Saudi and who would like to go home are asked to register at the Consulate. Individuals who are out of status are violating local laws and face deportation proceedings before they can return home.
  • Filipinos at the Terminal who have a confirmed ticket and a valid travel document provided by the Consulate are taken by the Saudi Jawazat (immigration authorities) to the Deportation Center where they will undergo investigation, have their exit visas processed and stamped and wait for their flight to the Philippines.  The Consulate makes representations with the Jawazat for their admission, but it is the Jawazat authorities that decide how many and when to fetch them.
  • Those Filipinos seeking deportation and can provide their own tickets are assisted by the Consulate and Saudi immigration authorities, but there are no guarantee that they will be the given priority in the deportation proceeding.
On the average, Saudi immigration authorities take in to their Deportation Center and process only 100 Filipino deportees at a time, since there are also other nationalities  who are seeking deportation.

There are also constraints in securing airline flights.  Most airlines accept only 50 deportees per flight during the peak season but this number is increased during the non-peak season.  In addition, most airlines allow only a maximum of five infants per flight, whether peak or non-peak season.

The Consulate has made flight bookings for the next 200 Filipino overstayers to be repatriated in the coming weeks.  The remaining 300 will follow anytime soon.

Source: www.gov.ph

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