Compromise set for overstays

Blockbuster show President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (center) leads the team which talked to foreign and local executives at the Philippines-Russia Business Forum spearheaded by Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (second from left) and joined by Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta (extreme left), Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (fourth from left) and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. The business forum was attended by more than 400 business delegates from various industries.

The Russian government is willing to make concessions on the army of undocumented Filipino workers in the Eurasian country so long as their true number is known, President Rodrigo Duterte told his countrymen during a meeting with them to wrap up his official Moscow visit.

He reminded the estimated 10,000 Filipinos or more living and working in Russia to reciprocate the country’s generosity and kindness by always being law-abiding visitors.

“Those who are overstaying and have gone into hiding, Russia knows that. Russia has a very good government. They’re very efficient but they assured me, ‘We won’t arrest them. We know the problem, your plight. We know how hard it is in the Philippines,’” he added.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is now putting the finishing touches on a bilateral labor agreement with Russia to address the concerns of undocumented Filipinos staying there.

“Secretary (Silvestre) Bello is working on an agreement that all of you who are overstaying or have had problems, there will be — they will be covered with an understanding,” he noted.

“They would be willing to make an arrangement,” he added.

Some hurdles need to be overcome, though, to ensure that the Russian government will not backtrack in its commitment.

According to Mr. Duterte, some of the said concerns are the incidents of illegal recruitment of Filipino workers bound for Russia, as well as the use of fake documents by Filipinos.

A big percentage of overseas Filipinos employed in Russia are mostly childcare and household workers.

Once the labor agreement is sealed, the Philippines can expand its export of manual labor to Russia to include skilled workers and professionals for its oil, mining and construction industries.

Speaking before the Filipino community shortly before his flight back to Davao City, the Chief Executive thanked “President (Vladimir) Putin and the Russian government and the people of Russia for being so nice” as proven by the very good treatment Filipinos receive in the country.

“My only prayer is… just abide by the laws of Russia. Just obey the laws and we won’t have problems,” Mr. Duterte said in his speech.

“All you 10,000 here, we have no bad record here. You know, the criminal laws of Russia are very strict. Much stricter than the Philippines. So, I’m pleading… Do not do anything that will jeopardize our relations, that they will look at us badly. Obey the laws. Follow the procedure,” he added.

The President particularly addressed Filipinos in Russia whose passports and other travel documents have expired and those employed without the required proper visas.

“I’m ordering the consular office or the embassy. You don’t need to go back to the Philippines. You can renew your passports here. There’ll be no more problems,” the President stated.