“HAJJ TERMINAL OPERATIONS” FOR THE REPATRIATION OF
OVERSTAYING OFWs IN JEDDAH IN FULL SWING
As of 8 May 2011, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has assisted in the repatriation of 972 Filipinos out of the 1,160 admitted to the Hajj Terminal since 24 January 2011.
This “Hajj Terminal Operations” is a special arrangement for the repatriation for overstaying Filipinos in the Kingdom. 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 Bridge in hope of being deported.
In 2009, the total number of Filipinos who were repatriated through this arrangement reached 815 and in 2010 the Philippine Government repatriated 1,429 at its expense. These figures do not include other Filipinos who were assisted by the Consulate through regular deportation and repatriation procedures.
The last pick-ups from the Hajj Terminals included 100 females and 47 minors on Friday, 6 May 2011 and 67 males on Sunday, 8 May 2011.
Unfortunately, the Hajj Operations arrangement may now halt as the Saudi authorities have stated that they would only resume admission of overstayers once Filipinos who have camped out in a lot adjacent to the Consulate return to the Hajj Terminal.
About 200 Filipinos camped in the vacant lot beside the Consulate sometime on 25 April 2011, but the number eventually decreased to about 50 as of 5 May 2011. The presence of this group is delaying the transfer of the Filipinos at the Hajj Terminal to the Deportation Center. This may lead to the rebooking or cancellation of their flight and the expiry of their Travel Documents.
The Consulate has constantly encouraged the group of Filipinos camped at the vacant lot beside the Consulate to return to the Hajj Terminal so as not to hamper the Hajj Terminal Operations.
Earlier in February, Saudi immigration authorities stated that they will no longer make any pick-up at any point other than Seaport Hajj Terminal (at the Khandara Bridge or at vacant lot beside the Consulate). The last and final pick-up made by Saudi immigration authorities was on 14 February 2011.
The arrangement with the Saudi authorities for the Hajj Terminal is carried out in the following manner:
1. Filipino overstayers who signify their intent to go home thru deportation are asked to register at the Consulate.
2. They are brought to and are sheltered at the Hajj Terminal while awaiting the provision of their ticket and the processing of their Travel Document.
3. The use of the facilities at the Hajj Terminal are paid by the Consulate for SR15.00 a day per person. This is an increase from the daily rate of SR10 per day in the earlier years.
4. Filipinos at the Hajj Terminal who have a confirmed ticket and a valid Travel Document provided by the Consulate are taken by the Saudi Jawazat authorities to the Deportation Center where they will undergo investigation, have their Exit Visas processed and stamped and wait for their flight to the Philippines. The Consulate makes representations with the Jawazat for the admission, but it is the Jawazat authorities that decide how many and when to pick up.
5. Those Filipinos seeking deportation and can provide their own tickets are assisted by the Consulate and Saudi immigration authorities but are not given any guarantee that they will be the first to be deported.
6. On the average, Saudi immigration authorities bring to the Deportation Center and process only 100 Filipino deportees at a time since there are also other nationalities who are seeking deportation.
The Consulate has experienced certain constraints in booking deportees. Most airlines accept only 50 deportees per flight during the peak season but this quota is increased during the non-peak season. In addition, most airlines allow only a maximum of 5 infants per flight, whether peak or non-peak season.
The Consulate is exerting its best effort to assist the remaining 500 Filipino overstayers. It has already made a booking for the next 200 Filipino overstayers to be repatriated in the coming weeks. The remaining 300 will follow anytime soon.
