Filipinos in Saipan Prepare for Repatriation

The fairly good turnout of Filipino workers at the start of the information caravan series held yesterday at the Filcom Pavilion in Susupe signifies that more people are now aware of what to do as the Nov. 27 deadline for guest workers in the CNMI draws near.

“The turnout is just okay since we have already talked to many community leaders who have shared the information with other Filipinos on island. It proves that there are more people who know about the final rule and have fewer questions,” Consul General Medardo Macaraig said in an interview after the event.

Some 150 Filipino workers on Saipan attended the information caravan, organized by the United Filipino Organization and hosted by the Philippine Consulate General, which dealt mostly with issues on CW and parole in place applications, OWWA membership, and repatriation processing.

Macaraig said it would take an average of three to four weeks for the Consulate to process a written request for repatriation services as the funding is taken out of the general budget for overseas Filipino workers.