OWWA to repatriate remains of 3 Filipinos dead in UAE flooding

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has begun making arrangements for the repatriation of the remains of the three Filipinos who died during the flooding in Dubai.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Mark Salazar, the victims were identified as Danny Casipong, Jennie Gamboa and Marjorie Saquing.

Casipong reportedly died after falling into a sinkhole.  Gamboa and Saquing suffocated inside their shuttle service when it emitted smoke.

“Immediately, nakipagusap na tayo sa kanilang pamilya. Personal pinuntahan ito ng ating regional officers. In fact, kagabi kausap ko yung kapatid [ni Danny] sa Lucena and all of the family members of the OFWs natin na sumakabilang buhay,” said OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio.

(Immediately, we talked to their families.  Our regional officers talked to them.  Last night I talked to Danny's brother and the families of the other OFWs who died.)

Ignacio said that OWWA is now working on the repatriation of the bodies.

“Ito inaayos na natin ano, hindi naman ito magtatagal. Hindi lang natin masabi specifically yung date. As soon as we get clearance and other requirements, immediately maililipad natin yan,” he said.

(We are making arrangements. This will not take long, but we can't say the specific date.  As soon as we get clearance and other requirements, we can immediate fly them home.)

Meanwhile, rain has stopped in Dubai but flooding was still a major problem.

“’Yung mga mabababang parte ng Dubai… Maraming sasakyan ang lumubog,” said Vincent Tambong, and overseas Filipino worker.

(It’s harder in the lower parts of Dubai. A lot of cars got submerged)

Experts said that the sudden weather may have been caused by climate change. The flood may have been partly caused by the lack of drainage infrastructure in the country.

Around 650,000 Filipinos are in Dubai.

OWWA said it is ready to bring home OFWs who will express intention to leave, but no one has volunteered yet from the Filipinos there.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News