PHL Consulate in Jeddah preparing shelter for undocumented Pinoys


The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah is preparing to build a rooftop shelter to accommodate the over 1,000 undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFW) camping outside the consulate premises.
 
The consulate plans to put up a roof on the upper deck of the building to accommodate 100 people.

“Di parin kami tumigil sa paghahanap ng approporiate shelter dahil yun po ang prioprity para sa amin,” Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay said in report by State of the Nation's Sherrie Ann Torres.

In a press briefing on Friday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert Del Rosario said there were two rooms available which can accommodate up to 200 people.
 
The DFA has also sent two senior officials – Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Jesus Yabes and Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa Petronila Garcia – to negotiate the easing of exiting requirements with their Saudi counterparts.
 
Refused shelter

The DFA said the rooms the consulate is offering to the undocumented OFWs are clean but most campers did not accept their offer.

Most campers opted to stay outside the consulate where they are experiencing hot, dusty and space-deprived conditions while calling out for the Philippine government to speed up repatriation, the DFA stated.
 
“Were not getting the cooperation of the people who are out there in the camp,” Del Rosario said in press briefing on Thursday.
 
“We have two facilities and guess how many weve been able to convince to move into these facilities? Del Rosario asked then said, “Less than 10 women with less than 10 children. So we have less than 20 people.”
 
Continuous supplies
 
Meanwhile, the DFA said food, water, and other basic necessities are being donated to the campers by other OFWs and kind-hearted foreigners and Saudi locals.
 
In an earlier report, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the campers will be receiving food, water, shelter and even electricity while under the care of the PHL government.
 
Hernandez added that those who prefer to stay in the tent city will be provided with daily food and water rations along with medical assistance.
 
The campers have been residing in the tent city in hopes of speedy repatriation from the PHL government for fear of being penalized after the Saudi King started a crackdown on undocumented migrant workers in March.
 
The crackdown was suspended for three months and will resume on July 4 while the DFA is having difficulties conducting repatriation due to tedious and complicated exit process of Saudi.
 
The campers have been pitted against a scorching Saudi sun and haphazard conditions since April 11. - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News

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