PH embassy, consulate in UAE to start repatriation of jobless OFWs

DUBAI: The Philippine mission in the UAE has called on Filipinos in the country, who have lost their jobs and called it quits in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, to coordinate with its officials so that their repatriation could commence.

Those who are on visit visas wanting to go home may seek help from their travel agency and relatives who sponsored their stay in the UAE, the mission said.

In a joint advisory issued today, Monday April 13, the embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate general’s office in Dubai said funds will be requested from the home office in Manila to buy plane tickets for those who have no employers, relatives or friends who could help them out.

“Kung ikaw ay walang amo, walang kamag-anak o kaibigan na tutulong sa iyo at gusto mo nang umuwi ‘for good,’makipag-ugnayan sa embahada o konsulado para malaman namin ang kalagayan mo,” the advisory said.

“Hihingi po ng pondo ang embahada o konsulado sa ating pamahalaan para makabili ng ticket para sa inyo. Kapag mayroon ng pong pondo, aayusin na po ang inyong pagbalik sa Pilipinas,” it added.

Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said the funds can be coursed through the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Assistance to Nationals section.

The advisory clarified that terminated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should ask for plane tickets from their employers as the law states.

“Ito ay sang-ayon sa batas ng UAE. Maaring mag-book ang inyong employer sa Emirates Airlines o Etihad Airlines dahil may mga binuksan silang flights at  binigyan na sila ng pahintulot na lumipad sa Pilipinas. Hindi kailangang tumawag sa embahada o konsulado dito dahil may pahintulot na ang mga nasabing special flights na ito na makarating sa Pilipinas kahit may lockdown sa Metro Manila at buong Luzon,” it stated.

Those who have no employers or work contracts and have given up looking for work, should ask help from their friend or relatives who invited them to the UAE as well as travel agency that facilitated their trip.

“Kailangan mo ng tulong nila para makabili ng ticket sa eruplano,” the advisory said.

The embassy and consulate asked that its staff be given ample time to process the repatriation, noting current mobility restrictions.

Here are the emails opened for this purpose: atn2.abudhabi@gmail.com and atn@pcgdubai.ae.