DOLE eyes overseas burial of 72 OFWs who died due to COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

A total of 72 overseas Filipino workers died in Saudi Arabia due to COVID-19 and the Department of Labor and Employment is seeking their families' consent for their burial abroad due to mobility restrictions caused by the pandemic.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, DOLE Director Alice Visperas from the International Labor Affairs Bureau said the Saudi Arabian government gave a 72 hour-deadline for the remains to be buried because cremation is not allowed in the country.

"Initially, 72 ang namatay dahil sa COVID pero 'yung 20 ay nailibing na sa Saudi dahil nagbigay na ng waiver ang family na huwag na lang iuwi ang bangkay at doon na lang po ilibing," Visperas said.

The DOLE is now explaining the situation to the bereaved families of the 52 remaining unburied OFWs, according to the labor official.

"Ang mga bangkay ngayon ay nasa mga freezer lang po. Dahil sa dami rin po ng cases ng COVID sa Saudi, nahihirapan na rin po ang gobyerno nila na i-maintain lahat ng casualties doon sa COVID," she added.

Visperas assured that the families of the documented OFWs will receive insurance, end-of-service benefits from employers, as well as bereavement and burial benefits from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Aside from the COVID-19-related cases, the bodies of 180 other OFWs who died due to natural causes and accidents in Saudi Arabia are yet to be buried.

On Sunday, the Palace also said those who died in Saudi Arabia due to COVID-19 will be buried there in compliance with the country's customs, while those who died of other causes will be repatriated to the Philippines.

Visperas said these cadavers piled up mainly because of the lockdowns and restrictions being imposed.

Meanwhile, she mentioned that the DOLE continues to offer the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program for financial assistance to displaced OFWS. She added that medicines and food are also being provided.

"Tinutugunan po natin ang mga pangangailangan ng ating displaced na mga kababayan. 'Yung mga pagkakataon na malayo sila sa ating POLO [Philippine Overseas Labor Office], mga 500 to 600 kilometers away, ang ginagawa po ng mga POLO natin nakikipag-ugnayan sila sa mga Filipino community, doon nila nire-remit ang pera," Visperas said.—AOL, GMA News