Joy Parafina (inset) took to social media to raise her concerns about the food relief assistance. SUPPLIED

Following the suspension of a POLO Dubai welfare officer over an incident with an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Dubai, Raju Gidwani, the Director of Shankar Trading Company and WestZone, has expressed dismay at the supermarket chain being inadvertently dragged into the controversy but said that relief distribution will resume on Tuesday (April 21). "We received information from OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) that we are resuming distribution again from Tuesday morning," Gidwani told Expatmedia.net on Sunday (April 19). On Saturday, Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes told Expatmedia.net that the food assistance distribution had been temporarily put on hold while consulate officials "are still finalizing our administrative details for the continuation.”

Viral video

Meanwhile, Gidwani said he has been receiving non-stop calls and messages from people about the viral video by Dubai-based OFW Joy Parafina. “Although we understand the situation, unfortunately, she made that video without being fully aware of the correct information, which is discouraging to people who are just trying to help the Filipino community at this very difficult time,” Gidwani told Expatmedia.net. In her viral video on Thursday, Parafina said she visited a WestZone supermarket to claim her food aid package from POLO Dubai and OWWA. Parafina said she was shown two bags of rice and a box that the supermarket staff said contained various relief goods. Parafina said she didn’t want to claim the package since the staff could not tell her the exact contents of the box. The Filipina then went on to say she called POLO Dubai for clarification and that Welfare Officer Danilo Flores had picked up her call, which escalated into a row after Flores allegedly hurled insults and profane language at her. Philippine Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello has suspended Flores pending an investigation into the case. Flores could not be reached for comment. Expatmedia.net tried but failed to get a comment from Parafina as of this publication.

‘Very disappointed’

Meanwhile, Gidwani said he was “very disappointed” by the allegations raised by Parafina. “We really want to support the Filipino community selflessly but very disappointed that some people, it appears, are not appreciative of the help of their government officials as well as WestZone,” he told Expatmedia.net. Gidwani clarified that the food assistance package was already paid for by OWWA and the Philippine Consulate in Dubai and was not donated by WestZone. Gidwani said WestZone’s participation in the initiative was to provide supply and logistics. “We have even arranged for relief boxes in Ajman,” he said. “The Filipino community is close to WestZone’s heart, so when we were informed by the Philippine consulate about their initiative, we offered to help by sourcing all the items that we sold at cost price, as well as handling the packaging and distribution free of cost,” Gidwani said. He added that the distribution process is “officially documented and accounted for”. “The consulate sends us a list of approved beneficiaries, and we contact them and coordinate where they can claim the package at any WestZone supermarket closest to them,” Gidwani said.

Packages ready

The WestZone director said that they have so far prepared 200 packages, split into two categories for active OWWA members and inactive OWWA members. He said that 45 boxes have been claimed so far. “We are just waiting for the Philippine Consulate to send us more instructions and we are ready any time to be of service,” he said, “The Filipino community is also our community.” Dubai OFW food assistance beneficiaries

What’s in the box?

WestZone’s Gidwani also showed Expatmedia.net a list of the items in the relief box categorized as Package A for active OWWA members and Package B for inactive OWWA members. Each box contains 19 items, although there are more quantities of each item for active OWWA members.
Meanwhile, this viral photo from an unknown beneficiary of the actual contents of the box appeared to verify the list in the food relief package:
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