West Zone resumes OFW food relief drive with OWWA

West Zone, a popular go-to place in the community because of its extensive Philippine products, has resumed its food drive with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have applied for the relief.

In an announcement, West Zone said the food relief re-commenced yesterday, Tuesday, April 21, following the “initial disappointment and unexpected confusion” over the food assistance program.

Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said the relief program works such that OFWs whose applications for the food relief to OWWA have been approved would be informed that they are qualified and can proceed to West Zone to claim it.

“There have been people who have been sending their applications to the welfare office. Now, based on these applications, the list goes down to the people who will be claiming their grocery at the supermarket,” Cortes said.

He said the resumption of the relief program is aimed at releasing food packages that were yet to be handed over to the beneficiaries.

“There were people in the list who have not yet been given their relief packages. This (resumption) was supposed to be the second batch,” he said.

Cortes said OWWA and West Zone selected the packages’ contents.

An OFW has apparently caused a stir in the relief efforts after going live on Facebook alleging irregularities.

Raju Gidwani, director of Shankar Trading Co. and the West Zone Group, said the transaction with OWWA was aboveboard. Danilo Flores, the OWWA welfare officer who worked on the relief efforts, said they have a receipt.

Flores has been suspended by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III who also ordered a swift investigation of the incident.

‘Bahagi ‘yan ng buhay’

Asked to comment over the action taken against him, Flores said: “Okay lang po, sir. Bahagi yan ng buhay.”

 “Alam naman ng nasa itaas ang totoo, doon tayo mananagot sa takdang panahon,” he added.

Gidwani said it’s “sad” that Flores was suspended. “It’s sad. He worked hard to set up the entire package and follow up,” Gidwani said.

Snacks

Some quarters in the OFW community have raised, through the comment thread on an earlier report about the issue, that some of the contents were non-essentials.

Flores explained: “Hindi lang sinama ang mga  maaring mabasag o mga mababasa para di magka-problema ang buong box. Mga pagkain talaga yun at snacks. Konti lang naman yung (snacks). Hindi naman lahat ganuon. Marami ring delata, may bigas, at noodles para maka-survive kahit paano kung magtagal man ang lockout.”

Also included in the package, according to a list of contents obtained, were three pieces of of canned sardines, three-in-one coffee sachets, a value pack containing one-liter bottles of soy sauce and vinegar, powdered milk, three cup noodles, condensed milk, a kilo of sugar, canned pork and beans, corned chicken and crackers.

Flores said staff at OWWA will “re-configure” the contents soon as the first batch has been released.

“Magbabago po matapos maubos yung mga naunang order sa kanila (West Zone),” he said.

To apply for food relief, follow these steps:

OFWS in Dubai and the Northern Emirates

Contact POLO Dubai through:

WhatsApp: +971505585536
Email: dubai@owwa.gov.ph

2. Submit the following documents:

– Passport copy

– Valid employment visa of not less than 90 days

– Proof of displacement from work due to Covid-19 (letter or email from company stating no-work no-pay status or unpaid leave for employee)

– Proof of OWWA membership

– Accomplished Assistance Form (click here to download)

3. A representative will contact you with information on the status of your request

OFWs in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

1. Download the application form on https://poloabudhabi.weebly.com

Or click here (you must be logged on to your Gmail or Google account)

For those without Google account, download the form here

2. On the POLO Abu Dhabi page, click on Submit Food Assistance Docs button (make sure you are logged on to your Gmail or Google account)

Or click here to go to the page (make sure you are logged on to your Gmail or Google account)

3. Upload the following documents:

– Accomplished application form

– Passport copy

– Proof of displacement from work due to Covid-19 (letter or email from company stating no-work no-pay status or unpaid leave for employee)

– Proof of OWWA membership

4. A representative will contact you with information on the status of your request