THE Cebu provincial government invited the family of the overseas worker who died in an underground tunnel accident in Qatar last Sunday to seek their assistance in bringing his remains back home.
“If they need any help, they should feel free to approach the provincial government through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office. Rest assured we are willing to help in any way we can, but we first have to identify what they need,” Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino said.
Juanito Pardillo, a 37-year-old miner of Toledo City, died after being buried by boulders while working in an underground tunnel at the Doha Metro Red Line in Qatar.
Pardillo’s wife, 32-year-old Amelyn Celin Pardillo, said the Manila-based company that contracted her husband will send her documents to be signed so they can extend financial aid to her family.
Evelyn Deguit, PSWDO’s Community Development Adviser, said they will coordinate with the regional Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to facilitate the delivery of the remains.
She said the Pardillo family can also apply for the province’s P10,000 burial assistance. Deguit said Juanito’s case is “special” and the ceiling amount can be raised.
OWWA-7 Labor Communications Officer Alsa Emphasis said the families of registered overseas workers are entitled to receive P200,000 for accidental deaths and P100,000 for natural deaths.
“We ask the family to come to us,” she said.