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| Poster for the Saturday opening campaign |
From a successful campaign to get the Philippine Consulate open on Sundays, a group led by United Filipinos (Migrante) Hong Kong is now calling for the opening of the consulate on Saturdays as well.
A statement released on Friday, June 6 by Unifil-Migrante together with the Filipino Migrant Workers Union, Methodist International Church - Filipino Community and Iglesia Filipina Independiente, urged the PCG to provide consular services on Saturday, which they say ranks as the second most common day-off for Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong, after Sunday.
This will ensure that the majority of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), “especially those in distress or facing critical issues, can access these essential services promptly,” said the statement.
The call came as senior officials from the Department of Migrant Workers led by Secretary Hans Cacdac were set to visit Hong Kong at the close of a week-long celebration of the 30th Migrant Workers Day, and the 127th year of Philippine Independence.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The campaign group added that it is aware that most employers do not permit their domestic workers to get out of their houses unless it’s their day off, so those who can go out only on Saturdays are unable to get much-needed service from the PCG.
These services range from basic consular services such as legal advice to general enquiries and document processing such as contract verification.
The group, however, did not indicate how OFWs who are allowed to go out on Saturdays are still able to secure urgent consulate services, and who among them feel a Saturday opening would benefit a great number of Filipinos in Hong Kong.
There is also no indication on which days they prefer the PCG to close should their call for a Saturday opening is granted.
Currently, the PCG opens for service Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm, except during public holidays. They are closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Sunday opening of the PCG in Hong Kong was ordered by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in response to clamor from various migrant organizations including Unifil-Migrante.
Those who wish to join the campaign for the Saturday opening of the PCG may contact 54209033 or 98546167.
