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Over 450 Filipinos seek assistance on amnesty

DUBAI — More than 450 Filipinos, who have been staying illegally in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, have already sought assistance at the Philippine Overseas Labour Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) regarding the UAE government’s amnesty programme.

As of June 30, a total of 461 amnesty-seekers have been received by the POLO-OWWA since it began receiving requests for amnesty assistance on June 23. Maria Teresa Pablo, administrative staff at the POLO-OWWA, said that during weekdays, the labour office attends to an average of 50 amnesty inquiries a day.

Philippine Labour Attache Virginia Calvez told Khaleej Times that certain arrangements have been made to assist Filipino amnesty-seekers.

“We have coordinated with Dnata, which agreed to assign one of its staff at the POLO-OWWA to provide booking and ticketing assistance to applicants who may not have an idea how they will go about booking their air tickets,” Calvez began.

She further explained that the service has been offered since UAE’s Immigration Department requires amnesty-seekers to have a confirmed air ticket upon submitting their application for the general pardon.

In addition, Calvez said the POLO-OWWA has assigned three of its Arabic-speaking Public Relations Officers (PRO) to provide translation/interpretation and liaising assistance to Filipino nationals across the six emirates.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Immigration Office has turned over to the Philippine Embassy a total of 770 passports of Filipino nationals who have pending immigration cases. Maria Teresa Taguiang, Consul-General in the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said the turnover was conducted in relation to the three-month-long amnesty programme. “It’s a mutually helpful initiative between the Immigration Office and the Philippine Embassy. Some Filipinos who want to take advantage of the amnesty programme need not go to the Immigration Office to get their passports,” she explained.

To save them time and effort, Filipino amnesty-seekers who had entered the UAE on Abu Dhabi visa are encouraged to check first with the Philippine mission representatives in Abu Dhabi and Dubai if their passports have already been turned over by the local authorities.

Inquiries may be addressed to the Philippine Embassy (02-6415922/ 6415944), POLO-OWWA Abu Dhabi (02-6426695), Philippine Consulate General (04-2544331), or the POLO-OWWA Dubai (04-2667745).