Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac has urged undocumented Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take advantage of the host country’s ongoing 90-day amnesty program ahead of Ramadan when office hours are short.
“Ang mga undocumented nating mga kababayan na hindi pa nag-aaply para sa amnesty ay pinapayuhan na mag-apply sa lalung madaling panahon at huwag maghintay ng huling sandali,” Cacdac said in his Facebook page.
“Magsisimula na ang Ramadan sa huling linggo ng Mayo, kung kailan ang oras ng opisina ay mas magiging maigsi. Kung kaya ang pagproseso para sa amnestiya ay inaasahang mas magiging matagal at madalang,” he added.
Cacdac said those applying in the last month of the program may not be able to have their papers processed by the time the amnesty offer has expired. “Nagbabala na ang pamahalaan ng Saudi na pagkatapos ng amnestiya, ibabalik ang kulong sa mga illegal na manggagawa at maaring patawan ng multa simula SR15,000.00 hanggang SR100,000.00,” he said.
The amnesty program took effect on March 29. According to Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn Quintana of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), about 15,000 Filipinos are qualified.
Those who avail of the offer do not have to pay penalties or exit fees and may even be allowed to return on a legal working visa, she said.
Some 105 Filipinos who have availed of the program have returned home last month.
