ABOUT 600 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in the Tent City of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be able to come home to the Philippines soon for free.
"The government will take care of their airfare as well as other immigration fees," said Vice President Jejomar Binay in a press statement.
He said the delays in the OFWs’ repatriation were caused mainly due to the workers’ lack of exit visas from their employers.
"Unawain lang ninyo na ang nagtagal dito 'yung requirement doon sa exit visa dahil may mga kababayan tayo na may ibang kaso, pagkatapos ayaw bigyan ng mga employers ng exit visa," said Binay.
He also said that these issues were now resolved, saying the exit visa requirement has been waived.
"Ang problema na lang natin mapabalik at may malaking grupo nga na mga 600 ang dadating," Binay added.
"I am optimistic that the Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary del Rosario's direct guidance are working hard so that our kababayans can come home at the soonest possible time," the Vice President said.
The number of stranded OFWs is now increasing, estimated to have reached around 2,500 Filipinos camping out beside the Philippine Consulate building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
With the situation, several Filipino migrant’ rights groups call on various international human rights organizations to strongly urge the Philippine government to attend on the mass repatriation of the stranded OFWs.