Shanghai, 10 May – A total of 247 Filipinos across Shanghai received emergency food packs in a delivery effort that took place on 7-9 May.
The food packages are part of Welfare Assistance being extended to Filipinos most affected by the weeks-long lockdown in Shanghai. It is supported by Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Funds approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs on the recommendation of the Consulate General.
Each beneficiary received essential food items such as rice, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and cooking oil. For a taste of home, the package also included a selection of Philippine-branded canned fish and meat products, noodles, soup mixes, sauces, biscuits and condiments that are locally available in China via companies such as Lianyugang Dawn Trading Co. Ltd. and Century Pacific China’s Shanghai office.
In an act of solidarity, Philippine company Liwayway China Co. Ltd. of Oishi fame donated snack items to round up the package.
Organized into four teams, Consulate General personnel and Filipino volunteers worked round the clock to track, coordinate and troubleshoot deliveries with the third-party logistics provider during the three-day period, amidst lockdown restrictions.
From preparation to execution, the emergency food assistance was helmed by the Philippine Consulate General in a collaborative effort with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Shanghai, and in consultation with the Philippine Department of Tourism Office and leaders of Filipino Community organizations.
The food packages were well received by the beneficiaries, with many conveying their appreciation and delight via messages, photographs and even videos. Word about the food packages also made its way onto social media platforms, drawing positive comments from Chinese and other foreign nationals.
The food packs are part of a larger DFA-supported assistance effort that offered prospective beneficiaries a choice between emergency food packs or food vouchers. Registration was via a mobile phone application tailormade for the assistance effort.
A further round of registration for these forms of assistance is due to be launched soon.
The Consulate General acknowledges the valuable assistance of CITEM Business Representative in China Mr. Raymond Tan for supporting PTIC-Shanghai in the search for reputable and reliable suppliers. The Consulate General also appreciates the inputs during planning and execution provided by community leaders Ms. Michelle Teope-Shen, Mr. Joe Santiago, Ms. Annie Yap, Mr. Mark Ibañez, Ms. Jill Hilasque, Ms. Grace Bautista, Mr. Noe Estrella, Mr. Noel Caligagan, Ms. Gemma Calope, Mr. Herbie Recato, Mr. Aristotle de Leon, Ms. Marjorie Andes and, in the nascent stages, the Philippine Chamber of Philippine Chamber of Business and Professionals in Shanghai.
The Consulate General extends appreciation to Mr. Agrix Go for lending his expertise and for his crucial work toward developing the mobile application platform for the registration of beneficiaries.
The Consulate General conveys its appreciation to Mr. Larry Chan and Liwayway China Co. Ltd. for the company’s contribution of products. END
