Scores of Filipinos repatriated daily

Manila: More than 50 Filipinos repatriated from Saudi Arabia for overstaying have arrived in the Philippine capital the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

The repatriated Filipinos, which include 36 men, 14 women and four children, were among the 165 Filipinos who overstayed and underwent processing at the Saudi deportation centre in Jeddah.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it paid the plane tickets of all 54 Philippine nationals.

On Monday, 15 Filipinos, seven women and eight children arrived in Manila followed by another 96, including 59 men, 22 women and 15 children, on Tuesday.

Assistance

The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah reported it provided assistance in the repatriation of 972 Filipinos out of the 1,160 staying at the Consulate-operated Hajj Terminal facility since January.

The DFA said the Consulate was preparing for admission into the deportation centre a number of women and children to be repatriated to the Philippines.

The Haj Terminal operation is a special arrangement between Manila and the government of Saudi Arabia for the repatriation of overstaying Filipinos.

Special arrangement

The scheme started in September 2009 after the Consulate and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up a way to repatriate Philippine nationals with the approval of the Office of the Emir of Makkah.

The arrangement addresses cases of Filipinos forced to seek shelter at the Sitteen Khandara overpass hoping authorities will expedite their deportation.

Instead of waiting to be processed at the Khandara overpass, the Filipinos are brought to the Haj Terminal. The facilities at the Haj Terminal are paid for by the Consulate at 15 riyals a day per person.