RIYADH: A large number of Filipino volunteers took part in a campaign yesterday to clean up Batha area of Riyadh frequented by members of the community. The drive, “Keep Batha Clean” saw over 1,500 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Riyadh and Jeddah turning up for the four-hour event that kicked off at 6 a.m.
Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor and Labor Attache Rustico de la Fuente led the volunteers in cleaning up the area.
“This campaign is unique for the Filipino community,” Villamor told Arab News. “It’s their first as far as Batha is concerned. In fact, Batha is one of the areas most frequented by Filipinos on weekends. For this reason alone, it’s proper that Filipinos undertake this campaign. A clean environment contributes to good health, which will help them perform their respective jobs efficiently.”
Volunteers scoured various areas littered with debris, which they scooped up with their cleaning equipment.
The campaign was sponsored by Western Union, the Philippine Embassy, POLO-OWWA in Riyadh, Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance and Pinoy Supermarket.
The area stretches from Manila Plaza to Pinoy Supermarket and between the Sony Building and Ghuraibi Street.
“I hope such campaigns will continue and gain adherents, not only from Filipinos but other nationals as well, because it coincides with the policy of the Kingdom to keep the environment clean,” Villamor said. “Cleaning up Batha is also one way of showing our gratitude to the Kingdom for the privilege we enjoy of working and staying here.” Rodelon Del Mundo of the Western Union expressed joy at the campaign’s success.
Omar Mohammad Al-Malki, owner of Pinoy Supermarket, said he loved the campaign. “I want Batha to be like Makati, Metro Manila's financial district. I have been there a number of times and we have an office there which buys the goods that we sell in Pinoy Supermarket,” he added.
