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Distressed OFWs under Jeddah overpass swells again


JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - A week after the Saudi government deported more than a hundred runaway OFWs to the Philippines, the number of Filipinos gathered under an overpass in Jeddah in hopes of being sent home is increasing. Jun Soriano, one of the leaders of the mostly runaway workers, told GMANews.TV their number has swollen to over a hundred on Thursday. “We are now almost a hundred again. I think they came from the safe houses maintained by fixers," he said. The workers are living under the Khandara overpass, along with other nationals such as Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis who are also trying to attract the attention of police so that they would be deported to their countries. Many workers resort to getting the police summarily deport them because going through the normal channels takes plenty of time. Moreover, when one is deported, the host government pays for the plane tickets. If they pass through the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh or the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, they would be required to get an exit visa from their former employer, which is often impossible since many of them are runaways. Tough life Soriano said life under the overpass is tough as one has to bear with the extremely hot weather and lack of food and amenities. “Most of us here have nothing left in our pocket. I think a majority of the stranded here were duped by the fixers who promised them an easy exit through the use of backdoor in exchange of huge amount," Soriano explained. In a recent interview, Consul General Ezzedin Tago discouraged runaway Filipinos from dealing with fixers and not to seek repatriation through such means. The stranded workers say, however, that they have no recourse but to deal with fixers because they are tired hiding in the Kingdom. Soriano said that while they are waiting to be picked up by the Saudi authorities, he is asking other kind-hearted Filipinos for help them especially that they have women and children staying with them under the overpass. “We need food. We have no work here already. We don't have enough money to buy food," he said. Compatriots respond As in the past, donations from members of the Filipino community have started coming. Employees from the Danube Head Office headed by Ronnie Llave donated assorted groceries and promised to give more. Ken and his colleagues at Almajal Service Master donated sack of rice and other grocery items. They also gave cash for the group to buy personal effects. Rizaldy Javing, a manager at Pepsi Cola Company, and his family and friends donated boxes of bottled water and other grocery items as well as trash bags and other cleaning materials for the stranded workers to keep their temporary dwelling clean. Other community members brought the children of some overstayers to their houses for a shower and prepared dinner for them. “I felt very sad when I saw them helplessly staying under the bridge, especially their children who are the most affected. I wonder how are they going to cope with the hot and humid weather," Javing said. An OFW from Olongapo City and residing near the Khandara Bridge is among those who have been helping, according to Joseph Copundan, one of the leaders of the stranded. Copundan said the man named Mang Gean has been donating food to them since they started to camp out under the overpass. “We are very lucky to have this guy who is always there to help us. I found out that he had been doing that for the past years," he said. Soriano thanked the Filipino community who took time of giving assistance to them. Sad reality Officials and OFW rights advocates say the increasing number of OFW runaways in Saudi Arabia and other Mideastern countries are expected as the number of Filipinos being sent there also continues to rise. The Filipino community in Saudi Arabia alone is estimated to have reached 1.2 million last year and the figure continues to increase. Consul General Tago, meanwhile, advised OFWs in Riyadh and the Eestern Region to report to the Embassy to seek help for their labor concerns immediately if they have complaints. For those residing in the Western Region who want to seek help, they can call the Assistance to National Hotline at 0555 219 613. He said the consulate, with the help of the Saudi authorities, is looking for possible legal approach to help the stranded Filipinos in going home. - GMANews.TV
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