The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) sought the assistance of leaders and members of different organizations in Kuwait to assist in distributing food assistance, comprised of canned goods, noodles and kilos of rice to Filipinos in different areas in the country.
Areas covered for distribution include Hawally, Jabriyah, Farwaniya, Jleeb, Salmiyah, Salwa, Fahaheel, Mangaf, Fintas, Abu Halifah, and Jahra. The locked down areas such as Mahboula were assigned an organization by OWWA to distribute internally among Filipinos.
In an interview with Atty. LLwelyn Perez, OWWA Welfare Officer, said that the drive commenced on the 5th of April and so far have distributed twelve thousand packs (12,000) and will try to push for distribution until the end of the lockdown. Several food and grocery companies have taken the initiative to donate boxes, canned goods and rice packs as well other independent organizations have taken their distribution to the streets to reach out to different Filipinos in need.
“The real challenges to this whole distribution drive is responding to messages and calls as well as finding their locations and meeting Filipinos who have not listed their names with coordinators and no spare can be allocated to them. However, we have their names submitted and promise to return to deliver,” stated RUGBII Guardians International Jojo Martildo, who leads the team in areas like Jahra, Riggai and Fahaheel.
Oliver Diong, Officer of Filcom and Coalition of Filipino Organizations commented that the current situation will not end sooner, but hopes that all Filipinos will be able to avail the grocery relief goods from OWWA in no time. The volunteers of the distribution are not receiving any financial assistance from both OWWA and Philippine Embassy and spend for their gasoline fare, mobile bills, time and effort in service of their countrymen in Kuwait.
“I have so much respect to these volunteers from our women in shelter who never complain packing goods in thousands for hours and our community organization leaders and members who never stop reaching out to our Kababayans. We pray for their safety as they do their tasks,” commented Atty. Perez.
However, Filipinos in some areas have voiced complaints including a lack of response to their messages that result in long waiting periods for their delivery if not no delivery of relief goods at all. Atty. Lyn explained that hundreds of names and requests are sent to coordinators on a daily basis and it takes a bit of time to sort out names and specific locations paired with densely populated areas with Filipinos, such situations are tough and a real challenge.
She requests for patience and ensures that OWWA relief goods will be delivered to them in no time. She also appealed to community leaders to practice tolerance and patience amidst bashes and negative comments and assist in appeasing the situation.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has also announced recently the reopening of financial fund request from its labor department termed as AKAP. The facility launched weeks ago and has accommodated 12,000 applications, which closed abruptly and caused appeals and objections from Filipinos. The financial assistance targets are Filipinos, who are affected by no work and no pay situation. The financial assistance includes US 200 for those who qualify.
Ricky Laxa / Staff Writer