New Helpline Sought for Overstaying Filipinos Abroad

“Dial Hope”, a new helpline that aim to help overstaying Filipinos abroad or mostly known as Tago ng Tago (TNT) to be able to return home and eventually process their documents to legalize their stay on their specific foreign countries.

 The Unison League of Organizations Inc. (ULO), a 10 year old consultancy firm, created the helpline "Dial Hope" to help Filipinos and their families without being in the risk of getting arrested.

Fred Dizon, chairman of ULO said that TNT workers can contact them anytime.

“They have to explain to us what happened to them pero walang bayad yun (but they don’t have to pay for that), it’s just a matter of trusting us," he said.

The organization will then evaluate the case and eventually take action.

Dizon added that they will draft a time table for the whole process – from the negotiation with immigration officials, processing of exit visa, return to the country, and the processing of their return visa as official migrants or immigrants.

“Our lawyer colleagues in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Canberra), Canada (Vancouver and Montreal), and the US (San Francisco and Las Vegas) will then help the TNT “bargain" with immigration authorities,” says Dizon.

“Pag may prison term, hindi namin sila isusurrender, di rin makukuha ng immigration sa amin yung address nila (If there is a prison term, we won’t surrender them, we also won’t give their address to the authorities)," he said.

But if they are successful, Dizon said the Filipino will only be asked to pay a fine for overstaying and will be asked to exit the country and enter again through the legal channels.

However, Dizon clear that they will not shoulder the fine plus the processing of documents. The organization will just provide assistance.

Dizon said that they have helped 13 TNT workers, which is a little fewer since most people are not aware of their existence.

“Hindi naman marami ang natutulungan naming pero para sa akin, makatulong lang ng isa o dalawa, ok na yun (We haven’t been able to help a lot of people but for me, it’s enough to be able to help one or two of them, that’s enough)," he said.

Dizon said TNTs or overstaying Filipinos can call their hotline at (612) 863-8992 and 639205144186 or e-mail them at dialhope1@yahoo.com to tell them about their situation.

Overstaying Filipinos may call (612) 863-8992 and 639205144186 or e-mail them at dialhope1@yahoo.com

According to the the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, in 2007 alone 900,023 filipinos are said to be “irregular”, or are not properly documented or overstaying.