Food packages sorted by Philippine Embassy personnel ready to be distributed to Overseas Filipino Workers 

Bandar Seri Begawan, 16 December 2021 – In the spirit of the holiday season, the Philippine Embassy, in partnership with several organizations, distributed care packages for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have been adversely affected by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei Darussalam.

As a response to the second wave that began in August, the Embassy reactivated its food assistance program to address requests for assistance by Filipinos whose incomes have been significantly reduced due to the temporary closure or scaling down of operations of business establishments.

“The effects of the second wave of the pandemic are much greater than last year’s. This time, there was more than a threefold increase in the number of OFWs who got infected and who requested food assistance. That is why, despite limitations in resources, the Embassy with the strong support of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) made a determined response to the pleas of affected Filipinos in Brunei,” Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) Pete Raymond V. Delfin stated.

The weeklong food assistance distribution for the holiday season commence at the Philippine Embassy on 13 December 2021.  Food packages were brought to the places of work and staffhouses of OFWs most intensely distressed by the second wave such as those working for salons, barber shops, cinemas and restaurants.

A total of three thousand three hundred and sixty three (3,363) food packages have been distributed to OFWs since the resumption of the food assistance program in August this year.

One of the organizations that partnered with the Embassy was the Rotary Club of Bandar Seri Begawan that delivered a substantial donation on 11 December 2021.

In the truest sense of the bayanihan spirit, Filipino organizations and prominent individuals in Brunei supported the food assistance program.  These include the Filipino Association (FA) and groups under its umbrella, Couples for Christ, Pinoy Ako OFW, Lyn Guintu, Nur Judy Abdullah of the Project Women Brunei Darussalam, Datin Eliza Carlos of Fleur de Lys Café, and Carmina Holmes of Bugtaw Philippines.

“This season, the holding of the food assistance distribution is the holiday celebration event of the Philippine Embassy.  Through this outreach program, we hope that we will spread cheer and joy to all our kababayans in Brunei.  The Embassy deeply appreciates the kindness and compassion that everyone has extended to the Filipino community in the Sultanate,” concluded Delfin.