Gerald Olwata, who works as a family driver in Saudi Arabia, will be returning to work in the oil-rich Middle East country with fresh hopes of a better life and yes, a brand new luggage to boot.
Thanks to a program set up by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration XI (OWWA XI) and a luggage bag retail franchise based in Davao, Olwata and several other Dabawenyo Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will be travelling with more secured belongings.
“Having the opportunity to receive a luggage for free is a great help to us. Because of this, we will no longer buy a new one. We can use the money for our other expenses. On behalf of my co-workers, we thank OWWA and Travel Club for the blessings we received” Olwata said in the vernacular.
Olwata was one of the departing overseas workers who were recipients of around 400 luggage and bags given away by OWWA 11 and The Travel Club last October 23, 2018 at Abreeza Mall, Davao City.
Petrona Bergado, OWWA XI regional director, said that the departing workers who received the free luggage and bags are bound for Canada, Hongkong, Japan, Australia, Macau and Middle East Countries.
According to Bergado, the OWWA 11 extended its assistance to OFWs by entering a partnership with The Travel Club, a premier one-stop travel store at Abreeza Mall branch.
“The Travel Club had a massive trade-in promo last October 25-28, 2018 where customers can get up to 50% discount on brand new luggage by trading in their old, usable luggage and bags,” she said.
According to Maria Estrella Sanchez, the Cluster Operations Head, Travel Club hosts a seasonal trade-in sale to help both travelers and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) upgrade their old luggage to a new one.
“With this project, we are able to help the departing workers by giving them the traded in luggage thru OWWA. We were so glad seeing the workers happy with the luggage they received,” she further said.
Bergado, on the other hand, thanked The Travel Club for choosing OWWA XI in this valuable project.
“It is our great honor to be chosen by Travel Club to be their partner in this endeavor. We hope to have another partnership in the years to come for the benefit of our OFWs,” said Bergado
