OWWA vows to help kin of OFWs killed in Kuwait

FAMILIES of overseas Filipino workers who died in a recent fire in Kuwait will receive benefits from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the agency said.

OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio told reporters on Monday that the families of Jesus Lopez, Edwin Petilla and Jeffrey Catubay would each receive P220,000 in bereavement benefits.

As the deaths were accidental in nature, according to the OWWA website, each family is assured of P200,000 in death benefits and a funeral grant of P20,000, which will serve as assistance for the burial of their loved ones.

Before the remains of the three (3) victims of the fire in Mangaf, Kuwait last June 13, 2024 arrived, Admin Arnell Ignacio intensely talked to their families… Photo from OWWA Overseas Workers Welfare Administration FB page

In addition to the death and funeral benefits, Ignacio said the company of the deceased OFWs would provide $10,000 in assistance, as well as $15,000 from the government of Kuwait.

«The OWWA will provide bereavement, funeral and other benefits totaling P220,000, while their company will give $10,000 and the Kuwaiti government will provide $15,000. We are also attending to their insurance, as well,» Ignacio said in Filipino.

The bodies of the three OFWs were returned to the Philippines on Monday and were brought to their respective home provinces.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, DMW spokesman Toby Nebrida told reporters on Monday that one of the OFWs who was injured was moved to a ward room in a hospital in the Middle Eastern country, while the other was still under intensive care.

He also said that the six other Filipinos who survived the fire, five of whom were outside the building during the incident, would remain in Kuwait.

The three OFWs were among 49 people killed when their office building in Mangaf, Kuwait, caught fire on June 12.