OFWs air anger, frustration as delayed passports affect job opportunities

Several overseas Filipino workers are complaining of the delayed release of passports, saying it has affected their work opportunities. In Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras" on Monday, some OFWs trooped to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Parañaque to claim their passports, which have been delayed for months. "Sinasabi nila na ang OFW ay bayani ng Pilipinas eh kung pahirapan nila kami. Every week bumabalik ako dito para lang dito sa passport na 'to dahil 'yong mga binibigay po nilang mga website, number, hindi naman po natatawagan," Ma. Lenny Garcia said. 'They say the OFWs are the Philippines' heroes, but they keep making it hard for us. Every week I come back here just for the passpost because we can't reach them through the website and the phone numbers they gave us.] The OFWs have paid P950 to P1200 for the courier fee but they have yet to receive a notice from the DFA regarding the claiming of their passports. An OFW said it has affected the processing of her employment papers abroad. "Nagmamadali po si employer na makakuha ng tao. Kung palalampasin ko 'yong opportunity dahil hindi ako makapagpasa ng valid passport, makakahanap po siya ng iba, mawawala na po 'yong chance ko na ako 'yong maha-hire," Lucy Oracion said. [The employer is rushing to acquire people. If I miss this opportunity because i can't provide a valid passport, they'll turn to others, and I will lose the chance of getting hired.] The DFA, meanwhile, said the processing of some passports has been delayed due to the erroneous information that applicants had provided in their application papers. "Mayroon lang siguro na apat na porsyente na nagkakaproblema dahil mali ang nailagay na impormasyon sa kanilang pangalan at kanilang birthday... Ginagawa namin ngayon, minamano-mano namin 'tong correction na 'to at nagdagdag na kami ng tao para gumawa nitong mga kailangang gawin sa consular office namin," DFA undersecretary Brigido Dulay said. [About four percent have problems with their passport becase they provided the wrong information such as their names and birthdays. We are making these corrections by hand and adding people to the consular office.] — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA

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