182 OFWs in Riyadh to be sent home

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia announced it would immediately send home some 182 distressed overseas Filipino workers who had taken refuge in a congested government-run shelter.

Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla sent a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stating the embassy will send home the distressed female OFW residents already congesting the Bahay Kalinga facility in Riyadh.

"We are exerting all our efforts to speed up the repatriation of the OFWs so that they can immediately reunite with their families and at the same time decongest the rooms in the center," Guinomla said.

Bahay Kalinga officials have reported that around 30 OFWs were on their way to return to the Philippines but had to postpone their departure citing the heavy passenger traffic to Manila during the holidays.

Another 20 OFWs are currently waiting for their travel documents for their flight home.

Guinomla ordered welfare officer Armando Roa, who is in charge of the programs and activities at the Bahay Kalinga, to exert every effort in order to decongest the facility.

A significant number of the Filipino migrant workers staying in the Bahay Kalinga left their employers due to various problems encountered during the course of their stay.

But since most of the migrant workers have contracts with their employers stating a specified employment period, they have to contend with cases filed against them for breach of contract. — Marvin Sy