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)