Villar sponsors free calls to loved ones abroad

Sen. Manny Villar seeks to strengthen family ties particularly among migrant workers and their loved ones in the country by enabling them to overcome distance barrier through communication.

The Nacionalista Party president and standard-bearer is sponsoring free calls to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in various countries through his Sagip-OFW Helpline's "libreng tawag abroad mula kay Villar" project.

Villar said, "We want to encourage our people to strengthen their family ties in underscoring the value of the family bond despite distance."

"Our citizens left in the country by their loved ones for work abroad must be given all the support to cope with such absence and other resulting circumstances," Villar stressed.

Four "libreng tawag" booths have been set up at Starmall Edsa corner Shaw Boulevard, particularly at the Shaw Boulevard entrance.

Early patrons were able to make calls to their loved ones in New York, California, and Boston in the US, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Hongkong.

At least 42 were able to connect with their families abroad during the launching of Villar's free-call project using the voice-over internet protocol on Jan. 20.

Lelanie Niene from Taytay, Rizal was ecstatic and thankful after being able to talk with her relative Leda Lorenzo in France after 10 years of non-communication.

Calls to the following destinations may be made: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guam, Hongkong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saipan, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, Vatican, Venezuela, and the United States.