Jobless Filipinos in Saudi Arabia sell blood to support families; lawmakers urge probe

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on overseas workers affairs was urged on Wednesday to look into a report that unemployed Filipinos in Saudi Arabia are allegedly being forced to sell blood to hospitals to support themselves.

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Partylist Representative Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. have filed House Resolution 2542 asking the committee, chaired by Akbayan Partylist Representative Walden Bello, to launch an investigation into the matter.

They were reacting to a Migrante Middle East report which estimated that around 8,000 to 10,000 undocumented and unemployed Filipinos in Saudi Arabia were selling their blood to hospitals to support their families back home.

The Filipinos were supposedly receiving 300 to 500 Saudi Riyals (P3,340-P5,568) per 500 cc of blood.

The lawmakers said that concerned officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Migrante Middle East and other agencies should be invited to the inquiry.

The Cagayan de Oro lawmaker said it is unfortunate that jobless Filipinos in Saudi Arabia are being forced to sell blood. He urged lawmakers to come up with measures that will ensure full protection of Filipinos abroad.