Tulfo told DFA overseas posts must open on OFWs’ days off

 

Senator Tulfo during a visit to the Migrant Workers Office in HK last year

Senator Raffy Tulfo who heads the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers has called on the Department of Foreign Affairs not to close its embassies and consulates abroad on days when overseas Filipino workers are off work.

He reiterated this call on his official Facebook page yesterday, when he reposted photos from is meeting with DFA officials during a joint hearing on Apr 30 with the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development.

Senator Tulfo mentioned in particular complaints from OFWs in the Middle East whose days off fall on a Friday, when most of the foreign posts are closed. Said OFWs are said to have complained about the difficulty of accessing government services such as document processing on this day.

Tulfo also mentioned recurring complaints about Philippine embassies and consulates being closed during holidays in both the Philippines and their host countries.

Senator Tulfo said it is not right for officers and staff of government posts abroad to enjoy “double holidays” as they must prioritize the needs of OFWs.

He told DFA Assistant Secretary for the Office of Migration Affairs Angelica Escalona to open all foreign posts more often, or to at least have a skeletal force, particularly on days when most OFWs are off work so their concerns and complaints are addressed on time.

Escalona immediately acknowledged the senator’s concern, and promised a review of the DFA’s relevant policy.

She also said overseas posts are allowed to choose a number of days when they could close their offices, which do not necessarily include all the holidays at the host country and the Philippines.

Unifil-Migrante spearheaded call for the PCG to open on Saturday

The same grievance is often expressed by OFWs in Hong Kong, where the consulate is closed every Friday and Saturday, and during most holidays in the Philippines and here, including the recent long holiday over Holy Week.

In response to the clamor, Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr. has directed that the consulate be opened at least one Saturday per month to provide service to a big number of OFWs whose day off falls on this day.

However, militant groups under the Unifil-Migrante banner are urging a regular Saturday service for the Consulate.