UNTIL the Philippine Embassy in Doha releases a statement advising them to leave due to a diplomatic crisis, some Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Qatar have decided to stay in the country.
Chardan Papellero, an architect working in Qatar for the past 11 years, said that so far, they have not felt the impact of the crisis.
“Nothing drastic so far, apart from some people stocking up on goods. We spent the day with our usual work mood,” he told SunStar Cebu yesterday.
Last Tuesday, the Philippine Government issued a suspension order to all newly-hired and returning OFWs working in Qatar.
This came after Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, severed their ties with Qatar last Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism and Iran.
With gas-rich Qatar unable to produce its own food and relying mostly on importers, the National Government raised concerns on a possible supply shortage.
According to the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Doha is home to some 220,000 OFWs.
Despite the situation, Papellero and his architect-wife reported to work yesterday, saying that “things are normal at this point.”
Apart from some people, mostly Arabs, panic buying in local groceries, the tension seems to be addressed by the ministry at a peaceful pace, he said.
Ma. Criselda Barquero, a structural engineer working some 98 kms. from the Saudi border, said she didn’t see anything unusual.
Meantime, she said, she will be keeping check on their supplies at home and stay abreast of the news to ensure her family’s safety. They’ve been living in the country for seven years.
“I’d be staying. I trust the Qatari Government and they’ve been informing the public and asking us not to panic. I also trust our government that they would do the same,” Barquero said.
But should the tension worsen, Barquero and Papellero said they will not hesitate to leave for the Philippines immediately.