West Zone, the hypermart chain working with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Dubai on its food relief efforts for distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), has suspended its participation in the program.
“We selflessly support the Filipino community in this crucial period but in return… Due to controversy we suspend this initiative until further notice,” Raju Gidwani, director of Shankar Trading Co. and the West Zone Group, said in an exclusive interview.
The matter stemmed from allegations raised the other day by an OFW, Joy Parafina, who went live on Facebook saying she has been told that the food packages were donations and not paid for by POLO.
Parafina also alleged that a welfare officer, Danilo Flores cussed at her when she called him up to ask about receipts.
Gidwani said the transaction with POLO was aboveboard.
“West Zone is providing free logistics and distribution support in this crucial time to the community,” Gidwani said.
“The entire food package cost was borne by OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administrarion which runs POLO) with the consulate of the Philippines in Dubai,” he added.
Gidwani said “everything was documented.”
He said West Zone has “provided all products to the consulate at cost without keeping any profit just to support Filipino community.”
Parafina, in her live video, said she went to West Zone and inquired about OWWA’s food assistance program. She said she was handed two bags of rice at 5 kilos each and a small box of groceries.
She said she was told by the staff that the food was a donation from the hypermart company. She added that she asked for a receipt but was told there was none.
Flores explained that it was not a donation but was actually paid for through the OWWA program under which 150 boxes were prepared – 50 for active OWWA members and 100 for inactive members.
He said OWWA has the receipts for the transaction to the amount of Dhs28,625.
“Hindi kasi kami makalabas dahil sa quarantine kaya naisip namin na bumili sa West Zone,” Flores said.
He also explained that per regulation, Dh200 was appropriated for active OWWA members and Dh300 for inactive ones for the relief packages.
“Transparent ito,” Flores said. “May resibo.”
Gidwani said he is “very disappointed with all this.”
He said there were 23 different products inside the relief package aside from the two bags of rice.
“Do you think it’s not sufficient food package at this moment? She gave a statement that it’s only rice and few snacks,” Gidwani said.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has put Flores on suspension and ordered a swift invstigation.
Flores denied he cussed at Parafina.
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The Daily Bread 
I’m active owwa member but I did not received.is this random selection or what. .every member is entitled.
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Please help me also
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Hi Maam and sir
Sana matulunga ninyo ako 1month wla ako work..nandito ako sa dubai no work no pay..po thank you po
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We know Mr.Dan Flores
Is a good Welfare officer
And not arrogant to anyone
He is verry helpful person
I believe that person who complains to him is real arrogant
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Good day.
I just want to ask regarding the relief good most of the Filipino doesn’t know that there’s something happening like that because so many Filipinos are not located in satwa area. I think it’s unfair for others like me. So many Filipinos leave in my place as well we are located in international city… and we didn’t receive any information about the relief good from our government.
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hello po. try nyo po itong link na ito. https://forms.gle/gya5Sno8ZTxwn6397
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Dapat kasi cash na lng ang ibigay wag na groceries
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Ky flores na nang galing di sila makalabas dhil sa quarantine pero hinihingan nyo ang ofw ng stamp na katunayan no work no pay! Asan utak nyong mga taga owwa! Pinahihirapan nyo lang mga pilipino ofw!! Kami wla n bahay tinanggalan ng koryente dhil dina mkabayad! Wla na makain ni wla pa kmi nakukuha tulong galing sa inyo! Dalwa kmi ng anak q dto wla na ang sponsor ko nsa labas ng uae di mkabalik 13 yrs aq sa uae apat ang anak byuda! Wla n kami makain pati anak q sa pinas! Lahat kmi ofw apektado sa cov19 ang anak q visit visa wla din trabaho kya sana nmn ung tulong galing sa gobyerno ay ibigay nyo,, spat na dpt passport visa at oec or owwa member! Di yung hahanapan nyo pa katunayan na dina nagsasahod mahirap hingin sa amo ang ganun dhil takot sila managot pag nalaman di sila nagppasahod!
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Flores said hindi makalabas kaya sa westzone nag order eh bkt hnd ang
pinamigay ay cash at 300 inactive owwa members and 200 for active bakt kailangan sya ang mamili eh hnd naman pala sya makalabas sa cash na ibbgay nyo bawat Tao cla na bahala mg budget sa food nila bakt kau ang nag decide kung anong kakainin nila sana hnd na kau mahirapan nag order sa westzone sana kung nag bgay kau ng recbo wla po sanang and live at complain.karapatan namin mgtanung kung worth 300 or 200 ba ang natanggap namin kc galing po sa government ang ayuda nayan.pano kung ung pinermahan namin less sa expected amount na dpat naming makuha San po napunta ang sobra..tama LNG na mnghingi kmi ng recbo sa mga nakakuha naming tulong lalo na kung galing sa government maraming corrupt Just saying my opinion..at isa pa halos ung mga nka pwesto as owwa eh masungit naninigaw I experienced twice!!! Sana madining ang boses naming mga OFW
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ipagpalagay natin 50 x 300 dhs sa active members
100×200 sa in active members
cge nga total mo…..
aabot ba ng 28,625?
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We need supply also we are under visit Visa and the others hav work but longtime stop so no work no pay maybe u can consider us also to recieve those relief goods. We are in satwa villa 4 street 29. Backside Iranian emergency.
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All u need is hired staff or people working in polo owwa . U need new staff all old staff should be change to make proper conduct and discipline. Just saying😇we need help now we dont have and yet money here in dubai specially us. Thnks
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All u need is hired staff or people working in polo owwa . U need new staff all old staff should be change to make proper conduct and discipline. Just saying😇we need help now we dont have and yet money here in dubai specially us. Thnks
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All u need is hired staff or people working in polo owwa . U need new staff all old staff should be change to make proper conduct and discipline. Just saying😇we need help now we dont have and yet money here in dubai specially us. Thnks
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I feel disappointed to owwa/polo here in dubai.all of us are affected in covid but they choose people they wanted to help.they want to help but there are lots of documents needed.i had nad experience also for asking assistance to them until now they ddnt replied to my email and in whatsapp.
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hello po. super undermanned po sila at humihingi naman po ng paumanhin. konting pasensya lang po.
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Paano po ako maka avail ng ayuda po?
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sir, try nyo po ito for the food relief https://forms.gle/gya5Sno8ZTxwn6397 at ito naman po for the financial assistance po http://www.polodubaiportal.org/dole-akap-for-ofws-in-dubai-and-northern-emirates/. good luck po. medyo mahba na po yata pila sa financial assistance
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I suggest better find reliable group of private individual here in dubai uae also to other country to distribute the help gor food and financial asistance for filipino if the goverment has a difficulty to distribute to every needy filipino abroad specially on this needful time. Also try to consider filipinos whose been put into visit visa , or from resident visa to visit visa they are also filipino that need to help too.
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nice suggestion, thanks sir
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Thats an Excellent Suggestion Mahri. Dapat lahat ng Filipino na narito sa UAE either Visit or Residence Visa dapat ay matulungan especially this time. Wag ninyong piliin kung cno ang dapat mabigyan kc lahat ay apektado! Saka wag ninyong pahirapan ang pag apply kc di lahat ay meron printer sa bahay para print at pirmahan ang Form. Majority ay nagamit lang ng Mobile
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Hello po Sana matulungan ninyo kami mahigit one month na po kaming walang trabaho Sana Bgyan nyo kami d2.
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heto pa po. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDLtpqXPk2nrWSN9OT7MZL99V4hS6-HEdnajkBSWCs5bNNzw/viewform
sa konsulado po
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Actually i dont know why they still asking many requirements to get on food assistance?basta sana makita nila na pilipino bigyan nila hnd na dapat na marami pang requirements bago nila bigyan kase pilipino yan,para saan ba mga yan kundi sa mga pilipino na and2 sa UAE,bakit puro pahirapan pa kung tlgang gusto nyong tumulong sa mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan?pagkain lng yan para kailangang hanapin nyo pa ang mga requirements na mahirap iproduce in times of this situation,sana intindihin nyo na close lahat ang mga opisina para hanapin nyo ang mga requirements na hnd kayang ibigay ng mga HR,pwede naman cguro na yong passport,EID or OEC na nagpapatunay na and2 tlga sila sa UAE na nagtratrabaho at naghahanap ng trabaho,dapat intindihin nyo ang sitwasyon this time at hnd yong pansarili nyo lng iniintindi nyo,pagkain lng yan dapat idistribute yan asap dhl sa going to 1month na lockdown marami ng nagugutom na kabayan ntn,ang pagkaalam ko sa government food assistance nila d2 eh hnd na nila kailangan kung anu ano pang requirements basta distribute nlng sila ng distribute hnd kagaya natin kailangan pa tlga ng kung anu ano pa,grabe naman pahirap kase na ginagawa nyo,tapos sasabihin nyo na nmn na kailangan yan sa report nyo eh ano ba nmn yang passport,EID or OEC na tlgang pilipino yong tao,hnd nyo man lng naisip na lockdown kaya mahirap maibigay lahat ng hinahanap nyo,ako nga hindi ko na prinocess yong sa akin dhl puro mahirap iproduce yang mga sinasabi nyo,EID,passport or OEC kailangan nyo bigay ko kaagad basta makita nyo lng na pilipino ako, useless yong 20 yrs ko sa pagtratrabaho sa abroad at manghingi ka ng tulong sa OWWA ntn eh kailangan ng ganito kailangan ng ganyan,at sa totoo lng marami tlgang bastos na nagtra2baho jan sa embahada ntn instead na tulungan mga kabayan ntn eh mas tinatarayan pa nila eh pareho pareho lng naman tayong pilipino ang pinagkaiba lng nagtratrabaho kau sa gobyerno ntn pasalamat kau maganda ang trabaho nyo, for sure ang laman ng kahon na yan hnd amount ng 200dhs or 300dhs yan, magkano lng yang 2 bags of bigas at delata,at least nmn sana kung ano ang sinabi ng mahal nating presidente eh sundin nyo naman kakonte na nga lng hnd nyo pa ibigay yong nararapat na para sa amin tlga?kung hnd nyo maibigay ang karapat dapat sa amin saan nyo yan ilalagay?
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Hi. I fill up the form “akap” last April 11, but until now I don’t get any update from the owwa. This is a time Dat we ofw need ur assistant but wer rili having hardtime to reach out the Consulate . Hopefully as soon as possible we will receive the cash assistant from our government. Kht sa pgfill up ng form phirapan tas after that wala ka man din pla nrerecieve mula sknla ng kht anung abiso na approve or ndi Yung application m.
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Hello po, ma’am Alma. last I heard po ay they are making arrangements po with Manila home office
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There’s Boy Bawang inside the box(must be replaced with basic needs for filipinos ) more condensed milk (for what?) why not give the amount (voucher) and let them decide what they need(basic needs) like eggs,oil,
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let me ask about this po
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Sana naman po dito din sa ajman mabigyan kami ng tulong, lalo na ako wala akong pamilya dito , ni wala akong imbak na pagkain , no work no pay po kami.. dami na akong minessage na mga nagbibigay ng relief food pero kahit isa wala pa akong natanggap 😞😞😞 … wala akong pambili ng pagkain ko.
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dapat mabigyan lahat kasi may mga record naman taga owwa o polo owwa pare-pareho naman tayo OFW. yun budget binigay ng government. para
sa OFW documented o hindi document. wala tayo sa bayan natin, nasa ibang bayan tayo kaya nandyan taga owwa o consulate natin para tumulong sa atin hindi para sa interest ng iillan. sana mabigyan lahat.
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Tama pde nmn cash nlng kgya ng financial assistance na cnsbi ippdla nila tru exchange. Tska pde nmn cla lumbs pmunta sa pdlhan officials nmn cla ndi cla hhuliin ng police. cguro mrmi sknila nktira outside Dubai ndi po mhigpit ang ibng Emirates nkklbas mga tao. Say ko lng po.
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Tama….sana makatanggap din ang mga visit visa and cancelled visa naggutom din nman ..pareho din nman apektado sa crisis ngaun…pacncya na po sarili opinyon ko lang yan sana mabigyan pansin dahil lahat ngaun naggutom..GODBLESS us all….
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Im trying to get the attention in every link that i found connected to our embassy. Please give attention. This is my email address. Spartanmarlen@gmail.com.
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Sana ibigay nila ng tama huwag na kupitin kasi alam nman nila sa panahon ngayon maraming nangangailangan , nakakahiya kahit ba nman dito sa ibang bansa pinapakita niyo Ang pagiging kurakot .. ibigay niyo nman ng tama . Hindi nman niyo pinahirapan , tulong to ng west zone sa mga OFW .
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Plsnman po sn mbgyan dn pokming mga¹ kabayan dto a alquioz paanompo kmi hnd po kmi nbbgyan po..at dmi dn po hnihinhi na requirements..paanompo mkkbgy ang amo nmin sarado po ang company..sn po ibgy neo nman po kc marami npo ang mgugutom..wala po kmi shud pkiusap po
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ma’am ito po link ng konsulado para sa food relief po. subukan po ninyo. https://forms.gle/gya5Sno8ZTxwn6397
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I have submitted all my documents for food assistance and akap 2nd week of April but no one contacted me from dole/owwa/polo. Ive lost my job since January last week due to covid 19 and I have already utilised all my savings for room rent and food. Please po huwag naman po kaming pahirapan na mga ofw. Sana mag hanap din kayo ng paraan na hindi lang sa west zone pwede ma pick up and food assistance. Paano naman kami na andito sa malayo? Bawal nga lumabas maximum 3 hours lang yong allowed sa permit para lumabas. Sa biyahe palang ubos na 3 hours namin balikan. Pwede naman siguro makipag coordinate kayo sa Union Coop sa Carriefour at least ba may pick up location kayo sa kada lugar. Like isa sa deira isa sa karama at ibapa. Advantage lang tong food assistance lang to sa malapit sa WestZone. Please naman po hirap na hirap na po kami sa pag fill up palang ng form. Lalo na sa requirements dahil wala na nga po kaming opisina. Yong boss namin umuwi na sa bansa nila. Logic nalang sana, me record naman kayo kung sino ang active at hindi. Me mga contact number naman kami djan or email. Gutom at stress na po ako.
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Ibigay ang karapat dapat para sa mga ofw huwag ng kupitan pa. Alam naman natin lahat naghihirap dahil sa crisis na ito wag na po tayo manamantala pa ng kapwa natin. Sana cash na lang ang ibigay ng makabili ng maayos na pagkaen hindi ung boy bawang. Ano un pantawid gutom din. Matakot kayo sa pang aapi niyo sa ofw.
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Sa pag fill pa lang po ng form pahirapan na at di mo alam anong form madaming lumalabas na form malilito ka kung alin ang pwede esubmit mas maganda po sana cash na lang ang ibigay kesa sa groceries para mabili ng mga ofw’s kung ano talaga ang kailangan nila hindi pa mahihirapan ang mga taga OWWA na bumili at mag distribute ng goods hindi na rin nila kailangan makapag ugnayan sa mga supermarkets convenient po sa lahat at maiiwasan pa ang mga pagdududa ng mga kababayan natin at sana lang po mas padaliin lang ang mga requirements para sa pagkuha kasi po may mga kabayan tayong nahihirapan intindihin at asikasohin ang mga hinihinging requirements lalong lalo na po ang mga requirements na hindi agad mabigay ng kanilang mga kompanya at mga amo kasi sarado ang mga opisina naway gawing mas madali ang requirements para makukuha ng ayuda salamat po!
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noted po for reference. thanks
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We are asking for government assistance..,why i feel its so hard to take that we already begging for it,if president already approved the budget..,you have already lots of requirements…,if they completed already no need to take it for so long they should distribute batch by batch😔if we need to pay something in embassy we just complete the requirements then we give the money…right..?it takes 1hour..,but if about giving the money a lot of reason ,requirements,issues and etc..pls distribute nicely…
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you have a point po, ma’am
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I already accomplish all the requirements they need i already submitted on the other link they provide but i dont know what happen that they did not even reply me call me or message on the whatsspp..the consulate here in Dubai is unreachable… Lol we’ve been signing the form even complete the requirements and yet ut ended with nothing…Helloo knock knock is anyone out there in consulate can hear us
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At sana nmn po wg nyo ng pahirapan
Pa kaming mga ofw s mga requerments n hinihingi nyo s amin Alam nyo nmn n sarado lahat ng mga company offices d2 at hnd po lahat ng ofw ay pare pareho ang klase ng trabaho meron d2 mostly d2 ay live out at mostly din po d2 ay hnd Dubai visa pero nandito s Dubai ang trabaho Nila pano nalang ang mga ofw d2 Ganon ang sitwasyon Kung pang Dubai lng tlg ang bibigyan nyo maging patas kayo s bibigyan nyo ng tulong visit visa cancelation visa working visa no work no pay lahat po pare pareho po kailangan ng tulong at Kung ang iniisip nyo about s may home working at continuously ang sahod makikita po ninyo yn base po s klase ng visa Nila sila lng nmn po ung papers and documents work ng company offices madali po verefy un s according s klase ng visa nmin Kaya Kung tutuusin emerates ID passport with visa copy ang phone number sapat n po yn Para s documents n kailangan nyo bakit kailangan p ng prof document galing s amo nmin Alam nyo nmn close lahat Pati transportation bihira lng wag nyo nmn kami ilagay p Lalo s risk kc dilikado n ang sitwasyon Alam nyo yn ngayon nmin higit kailangan ang pakikiisa nyo pra s aming mga ofw tulungan nyo kami. Kailangan nmin lahat ang tulong nyo.
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Ibang klase sila talaga nag decide kung ano ang kelangang bilhin bakit maiuulam ba natin ang boy bawang mga loko kayo taga embassy kakapal ng mukha nyo ibigay nyo ang dapat hindi yung gusto nyo lagi manlalamang kayo sa kapwa nyo!yung kaibigan ko 2 weeks ng nag apply nung sa 10k pesos na ayuda nasaan na ni wala silang reply naasahan pa kau ng tao!
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Give cash to decide what they want, so they have peace
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sa totoo lng hndi po ako aware jan sa food relief ng westzone..means iilan lng nakakaalam…i also filled up akap..pahirapan pa..wala pang update til now..i lost my job. sana nmn po matulungan nyo kami..
salamat po
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hello po. may food relief program po ang OWWA sa konsulado natin. need lang po na mag-apply sa programa para makapag-avail ng ayuda. and west zone lang po ang namamahagi.
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Kung ang ibibigay ng owwa ay pera, ibigay na lang niyo.wag niyo ipamili.bigyan ng kalayaan ang bawat ofw sa mga gusto nila kainin para matipid nila o mabudget.siguro dapat alisin sa pwesto ang mga walang pusong opisyal sa owwa. Laki ng naitutulong ng mga ofw.sabi niyo pa bayani sila.eh bakit ganyan ang trato ng mga taga OWWA?
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Ang sabihin nyu mga corrupt talaga kau dyan .. at ayaw talaga ibigay ang pera na dapat ay sa amin mga ofw..yung form na yan isampal nyu nlg sa mga pagmumukha nyu… At ang pera na para sa amin ay sanay maging karma nyu nlg…Kayo dyan na naka upo sa pwesto ng embahada ang totoong virus sa mundo!
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Hi , sana po matulungan nyo din po kami, nawalan po ako ng work last march 10 pa po, walang wla na po talaga,wala din po akong sahod na nakuha,napalayas na din po ako sa tinitirhan ko buti may nag magandang loob na nag pa tuloy sa akin sa satwa kasi wala na akong pambayad ng rent, nag message naman po ako sa number ng OWWA pero hanggang ngayon wala man lang reply, sinend ko na din po yung passport copy ko , termination letter tsaka employment visa ko na dati , cancel na po yung visa ko march 10 pa.
Maawa naman po kayo..
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hello Cheryl. pwede mo ba akong i-message sa whatsapp number ko maya-maya lang? nakikipag-ugnayan pa ko sa POLO sa konsulado natin tungkol dito. 055-617-8648 ang number ko po.
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Need ko po NG cash assistance or food assistance dahil no work no pay po kami
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ma’ am heto po yung link ng konsulado para po sa food https://forms.gle/gya5Sno8ZTxwn6397 meron din pong cash support, heto naman po ang link para duon. http://www.polodubaiportal.org/dole-akap-for-ofws-in-dubai-and-northern-emirates/.
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Dito po ba sa sharjah westzone meron po ba 1 month na kmi wlang work po
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ma’am yung food relief program po ay sa pakikipag-ugnayan ng OWWA sa Philippine Consulate at ng West Zone. Kailangan po ninyo munang mag-aaply sa Konsulado natin. Hindi po ito pamigay ng West Zone. partnership po, kumbaga.
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Last feb cancel visa po ako tell now..no work kc naabutan ako ng covid.di ako nkahanap.work…bka pwdi mka hingi konting tulong..msaya nko.sa relief goods na.tulad ng matanggap ng iba.
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hello po. please call owwa hotline 0505585536 or Email dubai@owwa.gov.ph. medyo al hands on deck nga lang po sila sa laki ng volume ng work — undermanned po kasi. good luck
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pls need po nmn ng food
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