Qatar’s sixth Philippines ambassador to Doha, Wilfredo C. Santos, will begin his post on April 28, the embassy has confirmed.
The envoy will represent not only the Philippines, but one of the largest demographic groups in Qatar. Filipinos account for some 260,000 of this country’s residents, third in number to the local Indian and Nepali communities.
That number is set to grow – in February, the Gulf Times reported that some 94,000 work visas has been secured by the Philippines to send overseas workers to Qatar, mostly to fill health and transportation-related jobs.
Biography
According to Filipino media reports, Santos was nominated to his post by Philippine president Benigno Aquino III last summer and confirmed in the fall.
Though he is a career diplomat, this is his first mission as ambassador, the embassy here told Doha News.
His previous foreign service postings include positions in the US, Singapore and Kuwait. Prior to becoming a diplomat, Santos worked as a journalist.
Santos will replace Crescente Relacion, who during his five-year posting has strived to improve the working and living conditions of OFWs, particularly the nearly 30,000 female domestic workers here.
However, the Philippines government’s push to ensure that some of its nationals are paid a minimum of QR1460 ($400)/month has put it at odds with Qatar in recent years.
In 2014, Relacion acknowledged that there had been a swift decline in the number of Filipinas working as household help in Qatar, following attempts to enforce the minimum wage.
That issue will likely continue to be negotiated as Santos begins his post here. Thoughts?
Slow news day?
not really, it effects the third largest group of people in Qatar
who should they report on?
British passports-No
Philippines ambassador- No
Why not? Two of the larger English reading audiences in Qatar.
Obviously the last ambassador has made enough out of the OFWs in Qatar, now it is time for someone new to fill his pockets…
High five…
The whole OFW set up from manila to the country of work is now designed to fleece Filipinos of their hard earned money. From the Poea to immigration officials to embassy staff. Who can forget the recent flights home for s!x scandal at recent embassies around the Middle East. They take your money supposedly for your protection and then abuse you when you are most vulnerable
He didn’t set foot in Qatar yet you are already calling him corrupt. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? It may be a corrupt system (I don’t know much about it to be honest) but that doesn’t necessarily mean he is a corrupt person.
It’s institutionalized corruption.
Dear Misha, The government of the Republic has a systematic way of appointing educated crooks wearing suits sitting in high places in all institutions in the Republic.
.
I know the government is corrupt but I don’t know that all staff members are…do you have a source to back up your claim that ALL the educated staff in high places in the institutions of the Republic are corrupt? That is my point.
Dear Misha,
Here’s what happens, the government appoints a person who is clean, straight as an arrow, what happens next , he will be hounded by bribes, threats and promises of more power & position, the culture of corruption is so deeply rooted in the system , that a powerful entity has close ties with all departments,branches of government, the police, the Supreme Courts, all ready to do thy bidding for a price,— should the new guy refuses to get along, it’s either you’re with me or against me kinda thing.
“innocent until proven guilty” is only in the movies. in the real life we all are guilty of something
So by your logic, if a person is accused of fraud in his company, he is guilty because we are all guilty of something?
Innocent until proven guilty refers to innocence of a specific wrongdoing you are accused of. It doesnt matter if you are guilty of other things you aren’t accused of.
Sorry Misha, I was being sarcastic.
That being said, I had the opportunity to deal with the outgoing guy in-person a few times. Always found him to be very conscientious, concerned for the welfare of the diaspora, and straight as an arrow.
Good to see more philipinos coming in.. They’re the best expat community in Doha by far.. Hard worker… Grateful to have a steady job… Always able to laugh… And happy to spend their hard earned money in local economy…
Over the last year everyone I know who has hired a new maid from the Philipines or renewed a contract went up in pay from around 1,000 or 1,200 to a fixed 1,450 or 1,500… In few cases over 2,000.. Which is good seems like their efforts finally paid off as many families in Doha realized a nanny or house maid from Philipines is way better than elsewhere and to better workers demand higher pay..
Also in many cases, me included, families are starting to get driving classes for their philipino maids… More and more qatari families are wanting philipino female drivers (who are paid 2,000 to 2,500) as they are seen much more trustworthy and realiable espically with small kids…
I hope to see most other Asian nationalities replaced with Philipinos in all service sectors even if it means higher pay…
Not directly related but just came across an article on Saudi arabia now looking to extend thousands of visas to bangali women to work as house maids at a fixed rate of 800 Saudi Riyal a month.. This is as a result as many Philipino workers leaving Saudi arabia to move to Qatar and UAE where the 1,460 minimum wage is made good…
I remember a few weeks back Qatar allowing 50,000 work visas to bangali construction workers .. But not sure if that’s because Bangladesh has set a lower minimum wage for their workers in the gulf or simply Qatar wants a more diverted work force away from Indians and Nepalese in the construction industry
I suppose you are sitting in for the Ambassador while the old one is gone and the new one yet to join. You seem to be totally deluded or just deluding yourself
It’s getting old
Deleting for personal attack.
I hope to see more Qatari nationals in more service sectors too.
Is this news ?
No its an article.
DohaNews.co
An article in DohaNews.co
Bravo
Let’s just wish everyone’s welfare with the coming of the new Philippine Ambassador.