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Ailyn Agonia
Doha
PHILIPPINE Embassy Doha has expressed its readiness to assist Filipino expats seeking to avail the three-month grace period of amnesty offered for illegal residents in Qatar.
The Philippine Ambassador to Qatar HE Wilfredo C Santos on Wednesday said that his office is currently coordinating with the Qatari authorities with regard to the procedures to avail the grace period.
"The Embassy does not have sufficient information about the number of Filipinos staying illegally in Qatar. However, following the announcement of the grace period, the Embassy has implemented a system to track them," the Philippine Ambassador told Qatar Tribune.
"Our efforts to coordinate with the concerned Qatari authorities, such as the Search and Follow-Up Department, aims to ensure and facilitate the repatriation of those Filipinos who are eligible to avail the grace period," he added.
A number of Filipino expats in Qatar have been inquiring about the specific procedures to avail the amnesty offer. Most of them have reportedly approached prominent community leaders for assistance.
Ressie Fos, one of the four coordinators for the Filipino community at the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Help Desk, said that he was among those who have been approached by his compatriots to shed light on the amnesty programme.
"The common reasons for workers to run away from their employers and have invalid resident permits are allegedly work-related violations and abuse of the former by the latter. This amnesty plan will help all such workers with expired RPs or accused of sponsorship law violations to get out of the country without legal consequences," Fos said.
