Press Release
PR-070-2015
15 May 2015

Composite Embassy-Consulate Team 

Meets with More OFWs in Najran , Hotline

for Najran Pinoys Established

(Najran, 15 May 2015) – Following its meeting with 300 Filipinos on Wednesday night (13 May 2015), the composite team of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah continued to meet with more Filipinos working in Najran to discuss the present situation on the ground and respond to their concerns.

Minister and Consul General Marshall Louis Alferez of the Philippine Embassy led the team, which included Vice Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague, Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul, Jr. and Welfare Officer Amelito Adel of the Philippine Consulate General.

The composite team met with some 100 male and female Filipino medical workers and service staff of the Najran Armed Forces Hospital at their temporary accommodations in the afternoon, while another forum hosted by the Najran General Hospital was held for about 50 male workers from small- and medium-sized commercial establishment in the evening.

“The two fora allowed the composite team to directly inform more Filipinos of the prevailing situation on the ground and answer their various queries regarding their employment circumstances and the broad outlines of the Philippine Government’s alert level system and contingency planning. I believe the face-to-face dialogue managed to assuage many of their concerns, especially as Najran City has remained calm after three days of the ceasefire, and commercial activity and public services have not been disrupted,” said Minister Alferez.

He added that the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Consulate General continue to assess and prepare for any eventuality, as the safety and security of OFWs in Najran remain paramount. “We urge Filipinos in Najran to fully cooperate at all times, while remaining calm and keeping abreast of the latest official information disseminated through the advisories of the Embassy and Consulate. It is vital that Filipinos be armed with reliable information on the situation and not rely on hearsay and speculation, especially those circulating on social media,” explained Minister Alferez.

Filipinos in Najran are reminded of the following hotlines of the Philippine Consulate for Najran concerns: 053 424 0362 (in Najran), and 050 721 6307 / 012 619 8478 / 012 669 2589 (in Jeddah). (END)