An official source from the Philippine Embassy has stated that the embassy has issued around 300 travel documents to Filipinos who availed of the Qatari government’s three-month amnesty for illegal residents.
Roussel R Reyes, Philippine consul general highlighted that many amnesty-seekers also went directly to the Ministry of Interior (MoI)’s Search and Follow-up Department, adding that embassy is coordinating with the MoI to determine the total number of Filipinos who availed of the amnesty, The Peninsula reports.
He further pointed out that the main reason for Filipinos staying illegally in Qatar was economic.
While appreciating the government of Qatar’s initiative, Reyes, said that the regular process of deportation involves time and sometimes detention.
It may be noted that the embassy processes 100 to 120 passports, 150 notarials and attestations and 40 NBI clearances on a regular basis.
Reyes thereby advised his compatriots to renew their passports early and not wait till the expiration date.
As a matter of fact, the embassy will conduct more consular outreach missions next year, which will involve the entire consular section including the ATN, POLO, SSS and Pag-IBIG as well as overseas absentee voters registration for the 2019 elections
