Gov’t to assist family of OFW in UAE who died of COVID-19

CABANATUAN CITY – A Novo Ecijano overseas worker in the United Arab Emirates who died on May 11 after contracting COVID-19 will be given assistance by the provincial government through its Malasakit OFW Help Desk, it was learned here Wednesday.

This was after Gov. Aurelio M. Umali, in his Tele-radio program over TV-48/dwNE dubbed “Usapang Malasakit sa Lipunan” ordered the NE-Malasakit OFW-HD to provide all the assistance needed by the family of OFW Richard Castro, of Bgy. Puncan, Carranglan to be able to bring home his ashes to Nueva Ecija after his death at the UAE. Richard's wife, Marife had earlier sought the help of the governor, who wasted no time in aiding her to repatriate the ashes of her husband, who was cremated on May 18, a week after his death.

Castro, a security guard employed at UAE, initially had a fever that went on and off until he decided be treated to a hospital on April 29.

While awaiting its result, his condition however, worsened so he was admitted in a hospital on May 3 for further treatment, his wife Marife said.

Marife said her communication with her husband continued until it suddenly stopped one day when she could not contact him anymore.

On May 11, she said she got an unexpected call from her husband’s friend, also working in UAE. He told her to immediately get in touch with the hospital where her husband was confined.

Marife said her world suddenly crumbled when she was told by her husband’s physician that her beloved Richard was already gone as he he died on the same day at 6:30 a.m. UAE time.

On May 18, she learned that her husband’s remains were cremated and his ashes were deposited at a UAE crematorium.

Her problem was how her family could send her husband’s ashes back home, so she sought the governor’s help, said Marife.

Upon the governor's order, it was learned that staff members of the NE-OFW-HD -- Venus Mandia, Anna Lee Mesina, and Jude San Juan-- have already started coordinating with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in the UAE for the swift processing of the immediate repatriation of Castro's ashes back to the Philippines.