ALKHOBAR, 29 May 2003 — Filipinos in the Eastern Region who have business with the Philippine Embassy are encouraged to meet the consular team here in Alkhobar today. The team headed by Vice Consul Germinia Aguilar-Usudan will be holding office at the Park Hotel from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the embassy.
Usudan said those living in places near Al-Ahsa may proceed to the Hofuf Hotel tomorrow morning.
The consular team, called Embassy on Wheels, will be rendering passport renewals, document authentication, and assistance to nationals.
Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla had earlier promised to send the Embassy on Wheels to the region regularly pending approval by Saudi Arabia of Manila’s request to be allowed to put up a diplomatic mission in Alkhobar.
With the consular team are attachés Acas Bayabao, Walter Villalobos, Yusuf Usudan, and Mohamadali Macalaba.
Labor-related issues will be handled by the POLO-OWWA team led by newly appointed Labor Attaché Manuel “Dodong” Roldan and Supervising Welfare Officer Sotero Tornea Jr.
Community leaders in the region have warmly welcomed the temporary assignment of Roldan to head the Eastern Region Operations of the labor office.
In a meeting held at the International Philippine School in Alkhobar (IPSA) last night, leaders of different Accredited Community Partners of the embassy in region expressed their hope that Roldan would be permanently assigned to oversee the needs of OFWs there.
In July, Roldan is to replace Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul Jr., who will be completing his six-month overseas tour of duty. Roldan asked the community leaders to continue to assist the Philippine labor office in Alkhobar in bringing out to OFWs the programs of the embassy.
“We come to assist the Filipino workers here. We come to give them the best we can. But we cannot give them the best assistance if we do not have the resources of the people like you to back us up,” Roldan said.
