Saudi extends grace period for OFWs

By Matikas Santos
INQURER.net Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/79433/saudi-extends-grace-period-for-ofws#ixzz2XthZwfIm Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook MANILA, Philippines The grace period for undocumented migrant workers in Saudi Arabia has been extended for four months up to November 3, 2013, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Tuesday. We were just informed by our embassy in Riyadh that the grace period for the correction of status of undocumented foreigners in Saudi Arabia was extended until November 3, 2013, DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez told reporters in a briefing. Undocumented Filipinos are advised to take advantage of this extension and immediately proceed to the concerned Saudi government agencies or to seek assistance from our embassy and consulate in Saudi Arabia for their repatriation or the regularization of their status, Hernandez told reporters in a briefing. Around 10,000 Filipinos had initially asked to be repatriated after Saudi Arabia implemented its Saudization policy that aims to encourage the hiring of Saudi nationals. But then came these guidelines which offered to regularize their stay in Saudi Arabia so I think some of them have decided not to come home but instead to regularize their employment, Hernandez said. Saudi Arabias King Abdullah had issued the extension of the first three-month grace period back in April 6 which ends on July 3. Saudi Arabia has been cracking down on illegal migrant workers since March 28 in accordance with its Saudization policy. Hernandez said that many countries who also have nationals working in Saudi were also requesting for an extension of the grace period. [Many have] been requesting for an extension so that [their] people would be repatriated to [their respective countries] as soon as possible or that their papers are regularized and they are allowed to stay there legally, he said. All this was taken into account and we are happy that the king of Saudi Arabia decided to extend the grace period, Hernandez said. The policy has led to thousands of deportations of undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the country which is home to around a million Filipino workers. Government centers that process the repatriation and legalization requests were undermanned and already overcapacity leading to a slowdown in the processing of papers, Hernandez said.

Crimes in Makati alarm Binay

By Nia P. Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/436641/crimes-in-makati-alarm-binay#ixzz2XticPcbY Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook Alarmed by the upsurge of crime in the city, particularly on Chino Roces Avenue and C5 Road, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay ordered the city police chief to make his men more visible on the streets. The local government has included the two thoroughfares on its list of crime-prone areas in the city after a spate of crime incidents. Among these incidents were last weeks snatching of a gold bracelet in Barangay (village) Bangkal and a robbery inside a house in Barangay Kasilawan, where P10-million worth of property were stolen. The Inquirer also reported last month about brazen robbery incidents inside jeepneys on Chino Roces Avenue, as witnessed by the papers employees. Twice in 2 weeks One of them, Cipriano Frias, a 48-year-old library assistant at the Philippine Daily Inquirer main office on Chino Roces, said he twice witnessed passengers being held up inside jeepneys within two weeks. Spared since he was seated next to the driver, he saw the robbers casually walking away, since no policeman was around. Recent reports also showed the rise of petty crimes carried out by teen robbers called Batang Hamog on C5 Road. The robbers allegedly take advantage of the downpours and heavy traffic to steal valuables and hold up commuters. In a statement, Binay said that the spate of crimes in the said areas was alarming and should be curbed.

The city government aims for a crime-free environment wherein people can roam the city streets without feeling afraid that they would be victimized by criminal elements, he said. He said he has instructed Makati police chief Senior Supt. Manuel Lukban to immediately deploy more policemen and patrol cars to increase police visibility in crime-prone areas in the city.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/436641/crimes-in-makati-alarm-binay#ixzz2XtiY2Ggk Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook