Filipino ‘tent city’ finally pulled down

JEDDAH - Saudi authorities in Jeddah removed on Monday morning the last batch of tents housing stranded Filipino workers after they were transported and endorsed to the deportation center. The makeshift tent set up around the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, popularly known as the tent city, became a temporary shelter during an amnesty granted by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to all illegal workers to rectify their status and a crackdown campaign that followed. Some stranded Filipinos who were able to find new employers said they would have fond memories of the tent city. One Filipino worker, who did not want to be named, said: "I will not forget the time I stayed in that place. Besides meeting new friends, I also learned a lot during my stay in the tent city." Others thanked the Saudi government for the kindness shown to them while they were at the tent city, especially those who took time to provide them assistance such as food and water. "There are lots of Saudis and people of other countries who gave us food and water regularly and it really mattered to us," one of them said. Meanwhile, Philippine Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay said 91 stranded Filipinos, all male, were the last batch endorsed to the Shumaisy deportation center on Sunday. Around 980 Filipinos, including children, were endorsed to the center since it started operating in January last year. Vice Consul R.J. Sumague said some of those taken to the deportation center left home while others were still being processed. Despite government efforts, some stranded workers were worried about going to the deportation center, saying they fear being stuck there for months. Garibay said officials of the Passport Department (Jawazat) process their repatriation and issue exit visas and not the consulate. "Your stay in Shumaisy will depend on your case but the consulate will be coordinating with the Jawazat to speed up your repatriation," Garibay said. The consulate said those who ran away from their sponsors or have pending labor cases can coordinate with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office on the first floor of the consulate.

Source: Saudi Gazette