THE family of a Bacoleño stranded and jobless at Yanbu Al Bahar in Saudi Arabia has called for assistance from the government for his immediate repatriation to the Philippines.
A video of Endrico Melicado, 31, of Barangay Singcang Airport in Bacolod City, crying and appealing for help in his return to the country went viral on social media.
It was uploaded by his fellow overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Cris Ostia from Iligan City, who already returned to the Philippines after four months of being stranded also in the Middle Eastern country.
In the video, Melicado said he has been jobless for almost a year now after their company closed due to the oil crisis that hit Saudi Arabia thus, he turned into scavenging in order to survive.
"Gusto ko sanang makauwi na, pinapaasa lang ako ng boss ko na asikasuhin yung papeles ko (I want to go home now, my employer is giving me false hopes to process my papers),” Melicado said.
The OFW said he also sought the help of his agency, but he has not received a response yet.
Melicado is staying alone at their barracks in Haras Watani National Guard as the other OFWs were already sent back home.
"Eleven months na ako ditong nakatunganga walang sahod, nag-aalala na pamilya ko. Wala na po akong magawa (I have been jobless for 11 months. I don't have a salary, my family is worried for me. I can't do anything)," he said.
His parents, Enrique and Cecilia, told Sun.Star Bacolod on Monday, November 14, that it was in April 2014 when Melicado went to Saudi Arabia to work as construction worker.
At first, his job went well, and he was able to send money as payment for the debts he incurred in processing and travel fees, they added.
“We felt sad upon learning that their company went bankrupt. Since January, he was not able to send money anymore,” his fisherman father said.
His sister Celeste Grace said that they already brought her brother’s plight to the attention of the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (Owwa) in Bacolod City.
They were advised to ask the help of the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia as the Owwa cannot directly act on the matter, she added.
After the video went viral, he received assistance from his fellow Filipinos who gave him food and water.
In his last conversation with his family in Bacolod, Melicado said he had already contacted the Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia but they have yet to give him updates.
In a separate interview, Ostia told Sun.Star Bacolod that Melicado is being asked to pay 1,500 Saudi riyals for his visa.
“We are calling on our local and national governments to help us in speeding up the processing of Endrico’s papers so that he can be sent back immediately here in Bacolod,” his mother appealed.
