Pay your dues, OWWA chief reminds OFWs

Don’t forget to pay your $25 membership dues every two years, Administrator Marianito Roque of the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration reminded overseas Filipino workers on Tuesday. “We never know what could happen to us while working abroad. That’s why I’m appealing to our OFWs to pay their membership fee religiously," Roque said, noting the case of 27-year-old Jocelyn Dulnuan who was considered an undocumented worker for failing to settle her dues. Dulnuan, a domestic worker from Ifugao, was found dead at the basement quarters of a mansion in Ontario, Canada on Oct. 1. Groups in Canada’s Filipino community have been raising funds to send home her body because her next of kin could not be entitled to the standard benefits due to OWWA members. “To be honest, it is unfortunate that Dulnuan was no longer a member of OWWA. She was remiss to pay the fee. Kung tutuusin, napakaliit ng $25 sa Canada kaya it’s sad to say na walang mai-extend na tulong ang OWWA sa kanya," Roque told GMANews.TV. Nonetheless, he said the Department of Foreign Affairs is doing everything to help repatriate Dulnuan’s remains to the Philippines. Reports from Canada said the Philippine consulate has pledged to shoulder $5,000 or half of the amount needed to ship Dulnuan’s body to Manila. “In cases like this na hindi member ng OWWA ang OFW, ang DFA ang tumutulong sa kanila. Pero sayang din naman ang benefits na pwede sanang maibigay ng OWWA sa family ni Dulnuan kung member pa siya," Roque said. An OWWA member is covered with life insurance for the duration of his/her employment contract. The coverage includes P100,000 for natural death and P200,000 for accidental death. In addition to this, the member’s next of kin can also claim burial benefits of P20,000 when the member dies. There is also disability or dismemberment benefits ranging from P2,000 to P50,000. In case of total permanent disability, a member can claim P100,000. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV