“I can see that you are well-adjusted to the lifestyle here. You have time to get together and render free medical services,” he told the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who attended the free medical mission.
The mission was conducted in cooperation with the Philippine embassy in Riyadh, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Social Security System, Pag-Ibig Fund, Ministry of Health hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and private clinics in Qassim province.
The medical mission, which had been originally scheduled for Oct. 28, 2011, was called “18th Health Awareness and Outreach Program.”
Tago said that the “cooperation among volunteer doctors and nurses was inspiring” and expressed the hope that this would continue, so that OFWs in remote areas with little access to medical services could be benefited.
Amer Khalid Al-Assaf, mayor of Al-Rass in Qassim, also graced the occasion as special guest and expressed his thanks for the opportunity to be with the OFWs during the gathering. Amer Mojahed A. Al-Khalifa, mayor of Sinanah District, and Mohamed A. Al-Khalifa, also from Sinanah district, graced the occasion as well.
Earlier, Assistant Labor Attaché Walfredo D. Villazor of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Central Region (POLO-CRO) had addressed the gathering, expressing happiness in being with fellow Filipinos. He also expressed the hope that the group would continue its laudable projects for the benefits of Filipino migrant workers in the region.
Philip Raymund Salem and Danilo Calape represented Pag-Ibig Fund and Social Security System respectively. Arnel B. Malate and Antonio M. Sanchez Jr., administrative staff of the Department of Labor and Employment, and Antonio M. Sanchez, Jr. of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration were also there.
Yousof S. Cardenas, Trans-Fast country manager for Saudi Arabia, which sponsored the event, while addressing the gathering, expressing his thanks for “the opportunity to be part of the medical mission.”
Dionisio B. Tabuco, on his second two-year term as Sampiga president, thanked the volunteer doctors and nurses for rendering free services.
He also thanked Ahmed Al-Rebdi, vice president of Saudi Pharmaceutical Appliances Corporation for manufacturing and technical affairs; Ahmed Fahad Al-Rushaid, inventory control and production manager; and Hassan Elmer Celo, senior procurement representative for the drugs and medicines given free to the OFWs who consulted with the volunteer doctors and nurses.
