OWWA officer Reynaldo D. Tayag yesterday said Miguel Perez, 54, who worked with the GCG & Co. Inc. as mason died of heart failure on Tuesday afternoon while on the way to the construction site at Fiesta Resort & Spa.
Based on OWWA’s record only Hydee G. Garcia, 26, the driver of the car that crashed on Sunday morning, had an active OWWA membership.
The accident also claimed the lives of Rose Ann O. Bautista, 22, and Ronald H. Carreon, 35.
The security guard of Marianas High School who was found dead on campus, Tuesday morning, was also an inactive OWWA member.
But Tayag said they will verify with the OWWA head office in Manila if these workers registered there.
As part of their standard operating procedures, Tayag said the Philippine Consulate General coordinates with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in immediately informing the families of the fatalities.
He said OWWA in Manila will also process the benefits and other assistance that are due to the active members.
An OWWA member is covered with life insurance for the duration of his employment contract.
The coverage amounts to 100,000 pesos, or $2,000, for natural death and 200,000 pesos, or $4,000, for accidental death.
A member is also entitled to disability/dismemberment benefits ranging from 2,000 to 50,000 pesos, while for total disability the benefit is 100,000 pesos.
A burial benefit of 20,000 pesos will be provided in case of the member’s death.
Condrado Castro, the lead man of GCG & Co., told Variety that Perez was supposed to fix the roof of the restaurant of the hotel when he suddenly collapsed.
Perez was immediately rushed to the hospital but, according to Castro, the victim was pronounced dead upon arrival by the attending doctors.
Castro said like Perez, he too is an inactive member because OWWA “is very reluctant” in giving financial aid.
He cited the case of his brother who was killed in Saudi Arabia. He said OWWA deliberately delayed the release of his brother’s benefits.
Tayag said he has no statistics yet on how many Filipino workers in the CNMI are inactive members of OWWA.
Irene N. Tantiado, United Workers Movement, NMI, said she felt sorry for those who died and failed to maintain their OWWA membership.
She said they once held a forum and invited OWWA officers who reminded workers about the benefits of membership, but “only few have responded.”
“I think OWWA is not neglecting its job,” she added.
