By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY - Members of an overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) association from Barangay Zone-2 in Sta. Cruz town, Davao del Sur donated around 1,000 washable face masks to medical front-liners of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.
SPMC is the only hospital in Davao City that has been recognized by the Department of Health (DOH) to handle coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases. The OFW Association donated the face masks through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 11.
OWWA-Davao Programs and Services Division Head Carmelo Elaya, with Labor Communications Officer (LCO) Maricel Sarabillo, received the donations, and turned them over to the medical front-liners of SPMC.
Association president Bebian Milay said the face masks were personally made by the association members who had sewing skills. She added that the initiative was part of their commitment and social responsibility to help those in need.
“It is our great pleasure to help others, especially now that everyone needs to wear face masks because of the rapid spread of Covid-19. We feel happy that in our own little way, we can help the front-liners by providing them face masks necessary for their daily hospital routine,” Milay said.
The Barangay Zone II OFW association is one of the active OFW groups organized by the Owwa-Davao in Davao del Sur province. A registered organization to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and is one of the recipients of the “Tulong Puso” program of the Owwa.