Raymund Cortes, Philippine Consul-General
Dubai - The certificate is aimed at preventing and reducing crime across the country.
Published: Tue 16 Jan 2018, 5:00 PM
Last updated: Wed 17 Jan 2018, 8:17 AM
The Philippines Consulate in Dubai is waiting for instructions from the Philippine government in Manila on the issuing of the 'good conduct certificate' as a prerequisite for obtaining work visas in the UAE, Philippine consul-general Paul Raymund Cortes said.
"We have already sent a report to Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs and we are seeking guidance on how we are going to issue the good conduct certificate," Cortes told Khaleej Times during a Press briefing, at the Philippine Consulate on Tuesday.
"It is a requirement that we are going to comply with, but we are still awaiting the specific details on how we can go about it," Cortes added.
Philippine vice consul Elizabeth Ramos also told Khaleej Times a "similar document" is already being issued by the Philippine government to migrant Filipinos, so they see no problems in issuing the new certificate required by the UAE.
The certificate of good conduct - to become a mandatory requirement February 4 onwards - is issued by the country of origin of the person (seeking employment visa) or the country where the person has been residing for the past five years. It is attested by the UAE missions or attestation centres of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation abroad.
According to Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief of the Dubai Police's criminal investigation affairs department, said in an early KT report that the certificate is aimed at preventing and reducing crime in the UAE.
"The closest thing we have is the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance, but we are not sure if this is the same certificate that will be required by the Dubai Police," Ramos noted.
The NBI clearance is the Philippine police clearance. The Consulate provides a fingerprint card which serves as the application for NBI clearance and the applicant goes to the police station for fingerprinting and the document is then attested by the Consulate, Ramos explained.
"Last year, we have processed around 1,000 NBI clearances as required by some companies in Dubai and as per the request of Filipinos who migrated to other countries," Ramos added.
Legal assistance for Filipinos
Meanwhile, Cortes said the Philippine Consulate fund for its Assistance to Nationals (ATN) has dramatically increased.
"If you (Philippines nationals) need any legal assistance, please don't hesitate to seek help from the Consulate. You can call or send text or WhatsApp messages to us on 0565015755 to 56 or you can drop me a personal message (PM) on my personal Facebook account (www.facebook.com/phcongendubaipaulcortes/)," Cortes said.
There is also free legal assistance clinic at the Consulate, every Wednesday from 1pm-5pm.
"Please bring all the necessary documents and we will help you with any of your legal problems," Cortes stated.
Important information
>618,726 - Filipinos living in UAE (end of 2016 figures)
>421,686 - reside in Dubai and the northern emirates
>44 - diplomats, staff at the Philippine Consulate
>1,000 - applied for NBI clearance in 2017
>200,000+ - tourist visas issued to Filipinos to visit Dubai in 2017
>57,603 - legal documents (contract verification, report of birth, marriage, deatch, etc.) notarised at the Philippine Consulate
> 1,137 - distressed Filipino expats sought help from Philippine Consulate in 2017 (659 had immigration problems; 452 for legal assistance)
> 1,269 - Filipinos repatriated to the Philippines from Dubai in 2017; 321 repatriated in 2016
> Dh2.97m - Assistance to Filipinos in UAE (including tickets for repatriation) disbursed in 2017
> Dh91,675 - Legal assistance fund (including lawyer's fees) for Filipinos in the UAE last year
> Dh72.5m - total fund allocated by the Philippine government as assistance to nationals in 84 Philippines posts worldwide in 2018 (up from Dh29 million allocated in 2017)
angel@khaleejtimes.com
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