INFORMATION BLITZ: Paalala sa mga OFW-members ng PhilHealth: Ang PhilHealth membership and contribution ay MANDATORY ayon sa batas kaya magpamiyembro at magbayad ng kontribusyon bago umalis ng bansa. Seguraduhin ang proteksyon ng kalusugan ng iyong sarili at pamilya.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

OWWA releases P220,000 in death and burial benefits

By Mary Jane R. Amarado

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Region 9 has released the amount of P220,000 in death and burial benefits to the family of the late Ailyn Tagarda Hidalgo, 30, an OFW whose body was found inside the drainage system at the basement of her employer’s residence at Yarmouk, State of Kuwait on Nov. 27, 2012.

OWWA Regional Director Hassan Gabra Jumdain said Hidalgo’s remains arrived in Zamboanga City on Jan. 25, 2013 via Air Philippine Express flight PR993 at 5:45 a.m. From the city, the remains were brought to Coloy Coloran, Siay, Zamboanga Del Sur.

OWWA and the local government unit of Siay facilitated and assisted in the airport transfer of the remains of Hidalgo.

On Feb. 25, Director Jumdain personally handed the check to Mrs. Marlina Hidalgo, the victim’s mother. Mrs. Hidalgo thanked OWWA for the effort and assistance extended to the family.

Director Jumdain disclosed that families of OFWs who were OWWA members at the time of their death would receive death and burial benefits of P120,000 in case of death due to natural cause, or P220,000 in case of death due to  accident.

On the other hand, the families are also eligible to avail of OWWA’s Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), scholarship grant for a qualified dependent, and livelihood assistance in the amount of P15, 000.00 to the surviving spouse.

The late OFW is the eldest among six siblings and the family’s breadwinner. She is survived by her eight-year old daughter.

Based on POEA database she was deployed by Malorata International Manpower Agency as domestic helper on Nov. 13, 2005 and the foreign agency was Nadia Suleiman Malallah Housemaid Recruitment Office. For her second contract, she was deployed by Mirben International Manpower Services on May 16, 2008. The foreign agency was Mohd Al-Aid Recruiting Agency/MahdAyedSaed Al Rashidi Office. (PIA9)