PH Consulate General in Jeddah, Filipino Community Hold Food Bank Drive for Filipinos Worst Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic 

Donors and volunteers at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah Hall where food packs were stored for distribution to Filipinos in need. (Jeddah PCG photo)

JEDDAH 03 April 2020 – The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah and the Overseas Filipino Workers Council of Leaders (OCL), a federation of several Filipino community organizations in Jeddah, concluded on 31 March 2020 a Food Bank Drive to help Filipinos who were worst-affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Consulate and the OCL started the Food Bank Drive on 17 March 2020, a day after the Saudi government ordered the temporary suspension of work in the private sector as a preventive measure against the further transmission of COVID-19.

“We knew at that time that the work suspension in private companies will affect the livelihood of many Filipinos as a result of the ‘no-work-no pay policy’ that some employers may begin adopting to cushion the economic impact of the crisis,”  Philippine Consul General to Jeddah Edgar Badajos said. “The economic toll will be felt by our kababayans sooner or later, so something has to be done to help fellow Filipinos cope with the situation.”

Meanwhile, OCL Director General Venecio Vano Legaspi said that his group immediately accepted the offer of the Consulate for  partnership because it is in line with OCL’s community advocacy.

The Food Bank Drive was able to provide food packs to around 1,249 Filipino beneficiaries from 92 donor individuals and organizations over a period of 14 days. Each food pack contained rice, noodles, canned goods, and bottled water.

With the continued temporary suspension in private companies, the Consulate and OCL are seriously considering a repeat of this Food Bank Drive initiative. END

Volunteers from the Overseas Filipino Workers Council of Leaders (OCL) deliver the food packs to the homes of the Filipino beneficiaries. (Jeddah PCG photo)

Recipients of Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah and Overseas Filipino Workers Council of Leaders’ (OCL) Food Bank Drive. (Jeddah PCG photo)

Food Bank Drive donor Toshi Restaurant hands over some food items for the Food Bank. (Jeddah PCG photo)

Recipients of the Food Bank Drive with Social Welfare Attache Anna Oidem (fifth from left). (Jeddah PCG photo)

Volunteers help in the packing and distribution of food packs to Filipino beneficiaries. (Jeddah PCG photo)

Volunteers helping in the packing and distribution of food packs to Filipino beneficiaries. (Jeddah PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.jeddahpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJeddah/.