JEDDAH, 26 October 2004 — “It’s about time to replace old with a new breed of dedicated, aggressive and competent consulate personnel.”
This was the initial reaction of some community leaders on the reported non-renewal of working contracts of locally hired embassy and consulate personnel by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Around 40 employees are affected when their contract terms end on Dec. 31. DOLE personnel from Manila will reportedly replace them as administrative staff effective January 2005.
“That’s a bright idea. With so many unsolved cases and the recurrence of so many problems of OFWs, I think we have to try a new blood,” said Perla Vega, a Bagong Bayani awardee and an active officer of MOTHER movement.
“The consulate needs personnel with proper background and qualifications to handle sensitive cases facing our co-workers here.”
Other community leaders however, say that this move by DOLE will not be popular considering the enormous effort it may take, including orientation of the new staff when the old ones are used to the routine of the job.
Rudy Carillo, president of OFWCC said it is not practical at this time to replace personnel since they are already familiar to the community.
When asked if he is happy with the performance of the present consulate staff, he said “I’m not happy and though I am not fully satisfied with their performance, I think what is needed now that the country is in fiscal crisis, is to re-train them to be able to cope up with the pressing needs of OFWs. That way is more practical than sending in new staff .”
Rudy Dianalan, former president of KASAPI Congress has a similar stand. “We need more resources not personnel replacement. Resources that will help the POLO/OWWA to help the needy OFWs.”
When asked why he has reservation on sending new DOLE staff, Dianalan replied: “Better the devil you know than those you don’t. How can we be sure that what they are sending here are competent and not crooks.”
“The problems from the consulate arises basically not from their present staff but the lack of resources needed to deliver quality services to the workers,” Dianalan added.
Blood Money for Truck Driver
The Philippine embassy in Riyadh said in a statement yesterday that it has received a check worth SR50,000 (about 750,000 pesos) from a court in Dawajme representing compensation for the family of a Filipino truck driver killed in a vehicular accident two years ago.
The truck driver, whose name was withheld on the family’s request, used to work for Saudi Catering and Contracting Company operating in Saudi Aramco projects.
Police reported that the victim was riding as a passenger of a Ford pick-up truck in the evening of Feb. 3, 2002 when its driver, a fellow Filipino, made a mistake that caused the truck to roll over in Hurtah, the same statement said.
The check will be remitted to the beneficiaries through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.
