ZAMBOANGA CITY, January 18 ---Nidz Ailyn Jumadi Bahjin, 23, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) whose body was found stuffed inside an abandoned suitcase at the parking lot of NAIA Terminal 2 last Wednesday, 18 January finally arrived at their hometown in Igasan, Patikul, Sulu yesterday at 6:45 am.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) rendered airport transfer and welfare assistance to the human remains of Bahjin.
Bahjin’s remains arrived at Zamboanga City via Philippine Airlines at 6:00 PM Monday night. OWWA 9 personnel Rosalito Sultan & Sattar Yusup accompanied Bahjin’s father from Zamboanga City to Patikul via sea travel. The Team arrived in Patikul early morning and witnessed the preparation and the interment.
As per verification in OWWA database, Bahjin was deployed October 6 last year with contract duration of 24 months to work as a housemaid in Oman.
OWWA personnel turn-over a check amounting to P220,000.00 for the death & burial benefit of the deceased OFW.
During a dialogue with the family, Sultan encouraged the family to avail of the scholarship for dependents of deceased OFWs known as Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) since the family disclosed that the reason why Bahjin decided to work abroad is to provide a promising future for her family and a good education for her siblings.
Under the Program, a deceased OFW shall be entitled to one (1) legal dependent who can avail of the special benefit package intended to cover the continuous education until the completion of college education and the provision of livelihood to a member of the family to augment their income.
Although known as a critical and risky area, OWWA personnel managed to responsively render assistance in pursuit of providing help to the family of concerned OFW thus strengthening the agency’s thrust in providing social protection to its members.(Mary Jane Amarado-Labor Communication Officer/OWWA9/PIA9/alt)
