Over 40 OFWs get chance to speak to their families back home

UNTV staff joins distressed OFWs at POLO in Qatar in celebrating the TV station’s 11th founding anniversary.                                                               Photos courtesy of Photo Ville InternationalBy Joey AguilarMore than 40 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Qatar got a chance to talk to their loved ones through UNTV37’s “Libreng Tawag (free call)” to the Philippines. The initiative was part of the station’s celebrations for its 11th founding anniversary. Also known as the “Public Service Channel” in the Philippines, the channel conducted a series of public service initiatives back home and in its satellite offices around the world including the Middle East.Moreover, dozens of distressed OFWs benefited from UNTV37’s outreach programme held recently at the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO).Officials and crews of the TV station also serenaded and entertained their compatriots who had been missing their families in the Philippines.UNTV’s “Libreng Sakay sa Eroplano” (free plane ride) programme, which benefited many OFWs abroad particularly those in the Middle East, will also donate 10 air tickets as part of the celebrations.Aside from the free plane ride and free call, distressed OFWs in Qatar also received phone cards and special gifts comprised of toiletries and other personal items from UNTV.UNTV-Qatar co-ordinator Giles Cesar Gucor said these programmes and projects, in partnership with Kamanggagawa Foundation Incorporated (KFI) and PhotoVille International, are part of their advocacy to “do good things to all men” initiated by their Chairman Emeritus Eliseo Soriano and CEO “Kuya” Daniel Razon.“In its own little way the TV station wants to help people from all walks of life, as well as the different sectors of the society, through its partnership with the Philippine embassy in Doha,” he noted.Philippine embassy officials praised UNTV for its efforts to disseminate information to OFWs in Qatar and in other parts of the world.During a courtesy call at the embassy, Ambassador Wilfredo Santos congratulated UNTV in celebrating its 11th anniversary for launching a series of public service initiatives.He said that as a media organisation, the TV station has been at the forefront in the efforts to provide information to OFWs on developments that affect their welfare.“The embassy is very much appreciative of the efforts of UNTV to disseminate information to our countrymen here in Qatar,” he added. “We use UNTV … to bring to our community members programmes that benefit them.”Ambassador Santos thanked the TV station for offering 10 air tickets. He said, “Your gesture is very much welcomed by us because it will benefit 10 of our countrymen here who need to go home.”The envoy hoped UNTV will continue this initiative in future. Labour Attache Leopoldo De Jesus, who attended the celebration, echoed the statements of Ambassador Santos, saying that such initiatives benefit more OFWs not only in Qatar but also in other countries.He said UNTV also donated bags of clothes, blankets and other personal accessories to more than 70 OFWs who were affected by the fire in Shahaniya area.“We thanked UNTV for remembering our distressed OFWs during its anniversary which is part of their commitment to extend assistance to those in need,” De Jesus said.KFI also received an award in 2010 and 2011 from Hamad Medical Corporation for its blood donation campaign, which it conducts every quarter of the year.