Thanks to the Phils. Embassy...NOT! (rant!)

wannabelikemike
By wannabelikemike

We suppose to received our new born son's passport last March 10. Then we received this Embassy Circular CRR-10-11: "Embassy appeals for understanding due to delay in passport releases" last March 15.

Then yesterday we received an SMS from the Embassy saying that we can now claim my son's passport, finally! So we rushed to the Embassy, prepared all the necessary documents for his residence visa application & proceeded to Qatar's Ministry of Labor.

In as much I want to fully understand & appreciate our Gov't's efforts, system updates for ePassport & increase in demand of passport applications, but damn! I just shell out QAR 230.00 for penalty charges!

Besides the penalty charges, we also have to account the other intangibles: spent hours staying in line, taking a couple of hours off from work thus a deduction in either my Vacation Leave or in my month's salary!

Apparently our Embassy is open from 7:30AM but will start to entertain applicants at 8AM after they're done with their morning chit chats, then will close at 12N and open at 1:30PM (1:30 mins of lunch break! I envy them), and will close at 4PM. They are closed on Fridays & Saturdays, Qatar National Holidays and they are also off during the Philippine Holidays!

We, the taxpayers are paying for all their perks. We, the OFWs, are following Qatar's holidays for days off and also their office hours. Some, have the Saturdays off, most are working from 7AM to 5PM.

I know the Embassy must have a lot on their plates with the growing number of OFWs here in Qatar, but isn't the Embassy should be the one making such adjustment to cater us Filipinos and not the other way around?!?

30-45 working days of passport processing is not acceptable especially when the host country's requirement for new born to have their visa is 60 days?!?

All I'm saying is, our Embassy is our representative here, they are following Qatar's days off, even the local companies' shorten hours during Ramadan, so they should also make it a point to make such adjustment to expedite ,in an efficient way, the processing of our papers. This will save us all the time and money which we can use for our family instead!

wannabelikemike...out!

By sceejay• 19 Apr 2011 19:48
Rating: 2/5
sceejay

he can make a difference. Its all up to the leadership to correct the problem. Not all government offices are the same but what I see here is no difference back home. Their office is the extension of corruption and red tape.

From the welfare office in polo this morning I witness how the welfare officer consoles the employer rather than her kabayan na katulong and she even scolded her that the employer might turn against her and she can be jailed. All I can say is "wow" yan ang OFW kinakawawa.

By scissorhand• 19 Apr 2011 15:18
scissorhand

i agree with u guys....i hope they can read this..

@Gafoorikka yes Filipinos are hardworking but mostly when it comes to serving their kabayans they are suck,just read Chinise comments and u will understand why..

this is the reality sad to say...

By wannabelikemike• 19 Apr 2011 15:01
wannabelikemike

Nope. My son was born late January, by the first week of February I already applied for his passport, hence the "release date" of March 10.

By stealth• 19 Apr 2011 14:45
stealth

it seems you applied for the passport a month late???

By Gafoorikka Enterprises• 19 Apr 2011 14:15
Gafoorikka Enterprises

Corruption is spreading its roots,

Indiscipline is what it includes.

Usually it takes the form of bribe,

The word is enough in itself for the happening to describe.

It fills one’s mind with greed,

Thus makes the person a broken reed.

It fights against and kills the truth,

It never does the work for humanity,

It makes a person blind,

He forgets the true path to find.

One wants his life to be luxurious,

It makes one impatient so soon,

It is totally a bane not a boon.

So, lets take a pledge and raise a voice against corruption

By chinise• 19 Apr 2011 14:02
Rating: 2/5
chinise

Most of the people in our embassy are not doing their jobs properly especially for giving a good assistance, information decimination or posting procedure on how to process and they don't know that those person who contribute money for their salary. Most KABAYAN who visited the embassy for official transaction suffered for degrading and humilation by some of embassy official espspecially the one who is assigned in receving area (document) near the cashier, He is not capable to become a govt.employee because he nothing but a stupid old senile person...

By Gafoorikka Enterprises• 19 Apr 2011 13:34
Gafoorikka Enterprises

You told me the Secret why Filipinos are HARD WORKING.

You work for your FAMILY

You work for your PHILIPPINES OFFICIALS

You work for your EMBASSY OFFICIALS.

You work for your GOVT OFFICIALS

But what if they are Corrupt.

It is time for a FILIPINO REVOLUTION.

By lpagaling• 19 Apr 2011 13:27
lpagaling

the truth really hurts

By anonymous• 19 Apr 2011 13:19
anonymous

Kabayan you have my sympathy

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