20 May 2011 -  The Department of Foreign Affairs stated that an additional 54 Filipinos, who were cleared for repatriation by the Saudi Directorate General for Passports (Jawazat), arrived Thursday evening at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Representatives from the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) welcomed the Filipino repatriates upon arrival.

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah arranged the flight bookings of the 54 Filipino repatriates, consisting of 36 males, 14 females and 4 children. It also facilitated the release of their travel documents.

The DFA shouldered the plane tickets of these Filipinos.

The Filipino repatriates were part of some 165 Filipinos who went beyond the authorized period of stay and underwent processing at the Saudi deportation center.

The first batch of 15 Filipino repatriates, consisting of 7 females and 8 children, arrived in Manila on Monday. This was followed by some 96 Filipino repatriates - 59 males, 22 females and 15 children - who arrived Tuesday in two batches.

Earlier, the Consulate reported that it has assisted in the repatriation of 972 Filipinos out of the 1,160 staying at the Consulate-operated Hajj Terminal facility since January 24.

The Consulate has readied the next batch of women and children for admission into the deportation center.

The Hajj Terminal operations is a special arrangement made by the Philippine Government with Saudi authorities for the repatriation of overstaying Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. This started in September 2009 after representations by the Consulate with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the approval of the Office of the Emir of Makkah to address the cases of Filipinos staying under the Sitteen Khandara overpass in hope of an expedited deportation proceeding.

They are brought to and are sheltered at the Hajj Terminal while awaiting the provision of their ticket and the processing of their exit papers.

The use of the facilities at the Hajj Terminal are paid by the Consulate at 15 Saudi Riyals a day per person. END