PH Consulate General in Jeddah Sends Home Sheltered OFWs and other Distressed Filipinos from Saudi Arabia

The 19 repatriates awaiting to enter the immigration counter on their way to the waiting area at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport early morning of 15 October 2022 (Jeddah PCG photo)

JEDDAH 17 October 2022 – The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah (Jeddah PCG), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), repatriated 19 distressed Overseas Filipino Workers including sheltered runaways and a minor on 15 October 2022, after consulate officials successfully secured clearance of their immigration liabilities and exit visas from relevant Saudi authorities.

These OFWs, except one who is a legal worker, sought Jeddah PCG’s assistance in their repatriation to the Philippines as they have already lost their jobs and were staying in the Kingdom as illegal residents because of their expired residence permits and huroob (runaway) cases.

One repatriate, a legal worker, was rescued from her employer during a recent consular mobile mission conducted by the Consulate outside Jeddah on 30 September 2022. She was simply renewing her passport but was encouraged to report the abuse from her employer when she heard a fellow Maguindanaon among the Consulate personnel. The Consulate together with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) successfully negotiated for the release of her unpaid salaries and other benefits as well as the issuance of her final exit visa. She was endorsed to the Office of the Social Welfare Attaché for welfare assistance and thereafter brought to the Bahay Kalinga shelter.

Many of the distressed OFWs who request the Consulate’s assistance in the processing of their final exit visas do not have enough funds to shoulder their return ticket to the Philippines. Most of them are irregular or undocumented workers who risk being apprehended by doing part-time work in KSA to send money to their families. However, with the Saudi government’s ongoing efforts to clear the Kingdom of illegal migrants, these OFWs would rather go home to the Philippines to start anew. The Consulate continues to find ways to assist the remaining OFWs who wish to go back to the Philippines with the help of the Philippine Government. END

The 19 repatriates assembling for the transports to take them to their flight at the night of 14 October 2022, (Jeddah PCG photo)

The repatriates check-in their luggage before their flight on 15 October 2022. (Jeddah PCG photo)

The repatriation team with Consul General Edgar Tomas Auxilian who assisted the repatriates during the special repatriation on 15 October 2022. From left to right: Vice Consul Jeremiah Attento, Mr. Damra Saumay, Mr. Xandrix Rosas, Mr. Jun Gonzales, Mr. Madidatu Mangulamas, Consul General Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian, Mr. Badroddin Abdullah, Ms. Rachelyn Roxas, Mr. Manuel Javier, Jr. and his wife Ms. Liza Javier, Mrs. Reynalyn Saromines, Dr. Vita Auxilian, and Mr. Naser M. Amino. (Jeddah PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.jeddahpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJeddah/.