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Repatriation of Filipino workers in NMI still in trickles
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Posted on Oct 08 2011
By Clarissa V. David
Reporter
Reporter
The number of Filipino workers who have submitted written repatriation requests to the Philippine Consulate General is “still not alarmingly high” a month after the release of the final rule governing foreign workers in the CNMI last Sept. 7.
Consul General Medardo Macaraig said yesterday that about 21 have already visited the Consulate to inquire about repatriation services, with only 14 of them making their requests in writing to make them official.
Macaraig said they already repatriated the fourth Filipino worker yesterday morning and they expect to send home another two in the next couple of weeks.
“It’s still not alarmingly high but we don’t know if the situation is going to be the same in the next few weeks,” he told Saipan Tribune.
Given that Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan’s H.R. 1466 is already approved to be sent to the full U.S. House of Representatives, Macaraig noted that “we wouldn’t know if some of them were given hope through Kilili’s bill.”
The Consul General reiterated that those who want to be repatriated will have to put their request in writing and wait since the request goes through a process.
Macaraig said the four Filipino workers who have been sent home were welcomed not just by their families but also by representatives of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
He encouraged Filipinos in the CNMI who have inquiries or concerns on the transitional worker period to visit the Consulate.
“We won’t know what their problems are or if we can help them unless they approach us and tell us about their concerns,” said Macaraig.
