More than 200 Filipinos to be repatriated from Jeddah this week

Philippine Consul General to Jeddah, Ezzedin Tago, reported that some 217 Filipino overstayers sheltered at the Hajj Seaport Terminal, who were cleared for repatriation by the Jawazat (Saudi Directorate General for Passports), will arrive in Manila this week.

Consul General Tago, who is also Charge d’ Affaires to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, added that this latest batch of Filipino repatriates from Saudi Arabia consists of 73 males, 100 females, and 44 children.

Some 57 males is expected to arrive Monday afternoon, while around 125 Filipinos will arrive on Tuesday in two batches. The first batch of six Filipinos will arrive Tuesday afternoon while a bigger group of around 119 Filipinos – 79 females and 40 children – will arrive Tuesday evening.

Another 20 Filipinos were booked on various flights and will arrive in Manila between May 23 and June 01.

Last week, the Consulate repatriated some 165 Filipinos who went beyond the authorized period of stay and underwent processing at the Saudi deportation center.

It has also readied the next batch of women and children for admission into the deportation center.

The Consulate reported that 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.

The DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, together with the Office of the President-Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Office of the Vice President, Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, House of Representatives-Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, and the Office of Muslim Affairs, made concerted representations for as well as  coordinated efforts to provide the appropriate assistance for the repatriation operations of the Filipinos who went beyond their authorized period of stay in Saudi Arabia.

The Hajj Terminal operations is a special arrangement made by the Philippine Government with Saudi authorities for the repatriation of overstaying Filipinos in the country. 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 a day per person.