By Mary Jane R.
Amarado
ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 4 - – The remains
of Florinda Hernandez Hamos, an Overseas Filipino Worker who died of
tuberculosis in Kuwait finally arrived at their hometown in Maluso, Basilan
Province on Friday, June 29.
The Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) Region 9 rendered airport, seaport and welfare assistance
to the deceased Hamos.
As per OWWA verification, the OFW was
deployed on November 5, 2002 by Non-stop Overseas Employment Corporation to
work as domestic helper in Kuwait.
Hamos’ remains arrived in Zamboanga
City via Philippine Airlines flight no. PR 123 around 6:20 am Friday. OWWA 9
Officers Rosellie Florida and Mary Jane Amarado accompanied Hamos’ siblings,
Arsil & Rahima Camlian during the port to port transfer of the remains.
The case was personally coordinated by
Regional Director Hassan Jumdain with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office –
Philippine Embassy in Kuwait which resulted to the immediate repatriation of
the remains. According to Director Jumdain, the late OFW died in Al Sabah
Hospital in Kuwait on 17 June 2012 due to tuberculosis and other complications.
“The siblings were invited in our office last June 20, and
we expressed our deepest condolences on behalf of the OWWA Administrator,” Jumdain said. “OFW
Hamos is an inactive OWWA member as verified in our database,” he added.
Jumdain stressed that OWWA provides
repatriation assistance even to inactive members. Upon arrival, airport
assistance is extended and where necessary, temporary accommodation, medical
and rehabilitation services as well as domestic transportation are provided to
all – regardless of their legal status.
“Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa OWWA dahil bagamat hindi na aktibong
myembro at matagal na sa abroad ang aming bunsong kapatid, tapos nawalan pa kami
ng kumunikasyon sa kanya ng mahabang panahon, natulungan po ninyo kami sa pagpapauwi
sa aming kapatid. Masakit man isipin ito ang naging kinahantungan sa kanyang pakikipagsapalaran
sa ibang bansa, nagging maayos naman ang pagpapauwi sa kanya,” Arsil Camlian said prior to their departure for Isabela
City, Basilan.
On the other hand, Reymundo Avenido,
Chief Mate of M/V Stephanie Marie accommodated the free fare for the ten (10)
relatives who also accompanied Hamos’ remains from Zamboanga City to Isabela
City, Basilan.
OWWA’s Repatriation Program includes
bringing distressed OFWs back to the country or bringing back of human remains.
Repatriated OFWs are accorded with airport assistance, temporary shelter at the
halfway home, psycho-social counseling, stress debriefing and provision of
transport services or fares for their on-ward travel to their provinces. (Mary Jane R. Amarado/OWWA9/PIA9/alt)