Report: 171 more undocumented Pinoys in Saudi brought to deportation center February 8, 2014 2:55pm

Another batch of some 171 undocumented Filipinos in Saudi Arabia may be taking another step toward returning home, after they were transferred to a deportation center earlier this week.

The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah on Thursday endorsed 171 undocumented Filipinos to the Saudi General Services Center (GSC) deportation facilities in Shumaisy, Arab News reported Saturday.

“Of the total number, 136 were women and 50 were children. This is the seventh group of endorsees for 2014,” Vice Consul Jim Josephus Minglana, head of the consulate’s Assistance to Nationals Section (ANS), told Arab News.

Earlier, a batch of "nearly 400 Filipinos" were shifted to the deportation center.

With the latest batch, the Arab News report said there are now 871 undocumented OFWs endorsed by the consulate and awaiting exit visas at the GSC. The daily transfers started last Jan. 26.

The OFWs endorsed are among some 8,000 Filipinos who approached the consulate in April 2013 for assistance in the issuance of exit visas.

Officials from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Jeddah headed by Labor Attache Jainal Rasul Jr. and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), provided buses for transfers.

DSWD attache Perlita Panganiban headed the consulate’s delivery of psychosocial needs of stranded OFWs, especially mothers and children, the elderly and the sick.

In 2013, the consulate repatriated at least 4,167 Filipinos. — LBG, GMA News

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PCG: China’s bullying in West Philippine Sea undermines international law --- Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star

China ships maintain presence in key West Philippine Sea areas --- Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star

Social media seen as cause of rising intermarriages --- Helen Flores - The Philippine Star