‘More and more foreign workers now know what to do’

Filipino workers on Saipan attend an information caravan organized by the United Filipino Organization and hosted by the Philippine Consulate General yesterday at the Filcom Pavilion in Susupe. (Clarissa V. David) The fairly good turnout of Filipino workers at the start of the information caravan series held yesterday at the Filcom Pavilion in Susupe signifies that more people are now aware of what to do as the Nov. 27 deadline for guest workers in the CNMI draws near.

“The turnout is just okay since we have already talked to many community leaders who have shared the information with other Filipinos on island. It proves that there are more people who know about the final rule and have fewer questions,” Consul General Medardo Macaraig said in an interview after the event.

Some 150 Filipino workers on Saipan attended the information caravan, organized by the United Filipino Organization and hosted by the Philippine Consulate General, which dealt mostly with issues on CW and parole in place applications, OWWA membership, and repatriation processing.

Macaraig said it would take an average of three to four weeks for the Consulate to process a written request for repatriation services as the funding is taken out of the general budget for overseas Filipino workers.

“Let us always remember that the Philippines is not a first-world country and that we have to get the approval for the repatriation from our Manila office,” he added.

He explained that the process involves purchasing of the airfare at least two weeks in advance to avail of a cheaper rate as well as giving the Filipino worker enough time to take care of his affairs before going back to the Philippines-“that’s why it takes time.”

As of yesterday, Macaraig said they have already sent home four Filipino workers, with another nine awaiting their schedule of departure.

Macaraig said that based on the governor’s statement that there are about 3,000 illegal foreign workers, the assumption is that majority of them are Filipinos. “Fortunately, the number of Filipinos that we have assisted doesn’t reflect those numbers.”

The Consul General encouraged those who do not have employers that will petition them for a CW status and want to go back to the Philippines not to wait “at the last minute” or for the Nov. 27 deadline before they seek the Consulate’s assistance.

Labor representative Carmelina Velasquez echoed this, adding that requests made ahead of time will be for the benefit not just of the Filipino workers but also by the Consulate staff.

Macaraig also urged those who can afford to pay for their own airfares to do so “so that the resources will be left for those who are truly in need.”

Should the number of those who seek the Consulate’s assistance rise in number until after the Nov. 27 deadline, Macaraig said that they will be obliged to prioritize who to repatriate first, starting with those who are both elderly and sick, followed by the sick, the elderly, and the general public.

The Consulate also advised Filipinos in the CNMI to renew their passports at least six months before expiration, adding that the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila is already “well aware” of the situation in the CNMI and has given priority to passport applications and renewal coming from the islands.

Macaraig also advised that while they welcome a proposal to extend the Nov. 27 deadline for all guest workers as well as Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan’s bill that seeks to grant permanent residency status to four groups of people, he urged Filipinos “not to rely” on these measures.

“We sincerely thank the CNMI government and Delegate Kilili but we have to prepare based on what we have now. We cannot rely on those two unless they get approved by the proper authorities, in which case is the federal government and the USCIS,” he emphasized.

Romy Quipid, who works as a cable splicer, said he only heard about the info caravan through other people. “Someone mentioned it to me and I wanted to attend to listen to what will be discussed even though I already have an employer who will petition me for a CW status,” he said.

Quipid, 52, said the info caravan is beneficial particularly those who have long been staying on island and are not currently employed. “I think it would be better especially those who have aged here on Saipan and don’t have work to just go back to the Philippines since it’s already difficult to get a job these days,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Elizabeth Sion, who has been on Saipan since 1997, said that while she, too, already has an employer, she wanted to attend the caravan to know what to do for her eldest child and her sister.

Sion, an accountant, said her sister recently lost work because the company she used to work for already closed down while her child is here on a student visa.

“From my understanding of what they said, it all boils down to one thing: if you don’t have a job, it would be impossible to stay in the CNMI. Those who are unemployed really need to make a decision and soon,” said the mother of four.

UFO president Bong Malasarte said the caravan was able to address some issues that Filipinos in the CNMI have. “The info caravan helped minimize whatever qualms or uncertainties they have about the situation.”

Both Malasarte and Macaraig said those who were not able to attend yesterday’s event or have more questions can look forward to another info caravan, the schedule and venue for which will be announced soon. –Clarissa David, Reporter, Saipan Tribune