JEDDAH, 15 December 2007 — In observance of the Haj holidays and the annual customary Philippine holidays, regular public transactions at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah will be effectively suspended from today until New Year’s Day, except for a 2 1/2 day break.
According to a schedule released by the embassy and the consulate, public transactions are suspended from today until Dec. 24 for the Haj holidays as well as on Dec. 25, and Dec. 30 to Jan. 1.
Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), Dec. 30 (Rizal Day), Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day) are all regular Philippine holidays.
Dec. 26 to 29 are supposed to be normal work days but Dec. 27 is a Thursday, during which office hours are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 12 noon only. Dec. 28, being a Friday, is an off-day.
The suspension of services, however, applies only to consular services, which includes passport, visa, authentication, etc.). Embassy and consulate officials said they will continue to handle emergency cases.
The consulate staff in Jeddah is also currently in the thick of activity to assist Filipino pilgrims participating in the Haj.
In the Eastern Region, however, the embassy’s consular team will not render consular services for the rest of the year, according to a statement issued by Ambassador Antonio Villamor.
The statement said the holiday calendar is in accordance with the directives of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine government.