In a move to allay unfounded fears by vacationing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the move was actually made to revise rules in accordance with the implementation of Nitaqat, but that it was not true that the authorities had changed the procedure regarding vacationing expatriates.

"For workers who are still under contract, an exit re-entry visa is provided," said Valte in a statement issued by the Philippine Embassy. She added that departing OFWs with exit re-entry visas were familiar with the procedure.

Valte said for those to be given a final exit visa, the regulations were clear. "No employee can file for an exit visa unless his contract has concluded, if extended sickness benefits haven't been given, or in the case of unpaid salaries and allowances.”

She added that a clearance had to be signed both by the worker and the employer and submitted to the Saudi Ministry of Labor for approval.

The deputy presidential spokesperson further said that it was irresponsible to be an alarmist at this point.

"As the Nitaqat rules are further clarified, the most significant development will be that the iqama (identity card) will become a basis for determining exit visas, and not just the date of the end of contract," she said.

"We understand that the date of termination will either be the end of contract or the expiration date of the iqama — whichever comes first," she said.

She added, however, that some companies might extend the contracts of their workers up to the date of expiration of the iqama if that came later.

Valte said that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah were prepared to render assistance to OFWs, particularly to undocumented workers. "We urge our fellow citizens to undertake the proper documentation of their identity work and to be discriminating about so-called information spread by excitable, even malicious and irresponsible individuals or groups," Valte concluded.