Gov’t execs urged: Hasten repatriation of OFW’s body

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- An online petition urged Overseas Welfare Workers Administration Administrator Carmelita Dimzon, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jose Brillantes, and China-based Consul of the Philippine Embassy Pablito Mendoza to immediately expedite release of financial assistance for the repatriation of the body of deceased migrant Benjamin Galap Yango, from China to the Philippines.

As of press time, repatriation fees reportedly cost RMB 86,000 (P584,800) with cost getting higher as the frozen body remained in the morgue.

Benjamin Yango, 33, was an English teacher in a private school in Harbin, China when he met his death.

Yango, believed to have died of heart attack two to three days prior to May 21 was found dead in his apartment by police.

Autopsy has not yet been done on the body.

Yango traces his roots from Bontoc, Mountain Province and Benguet. He was married to Fely Tomino of Kabayan, Benguet with two children.

The Philippine Embassy in China was repeatedly asked by Fely Tomino, Yango’s widow to provide or facilitate monetary assistance to enable repatriation of the body to the Philippines, it was learned.

Consul Pablito Mendoza of the China-based Philippine Embassy however said there was no monetary support coming from the Philippine government as he encouraged solicitation to raise the needed repatriation amount, a Beijing- based English teacher from Bontoc said.

The online petition which has registered as of press time 70 petitioners since it’s launching June 16 called on OWWA, DFA and the China-based Philippine Embassy to urgently expedite monetary assistance for the repatriation cost of the body, as part of the Philippine government’s “responsibility and duty to provide services for migrant workers who continue to provide a big part on the economic backbone of the country.”

In 2009, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) numbering around 11 million sent $17.348 billion, representing around 13.5% of the country’s GDP. The amount of $15.9 billion worth of remittances was sent by migrant workers to the Philippines in 2008, up from the $14.4 billion in 2007, and $13 billion in 2006.

OFWs often work as caregivers, domestic helpers, factory workers, nurses, IT technicians and programmers, engineers, entertainers, technicians, teachers, and seafarers in developed countries most especially in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, and other developed countries of Asia including Hongkong, Malaysia and Singapore.

Online petitioner Santos Magay Unsad said, “may the Philippine and Chinese authorities, concerned government agencies and NGOs take their obligation and duties to give due regard to its citizens.”

The petition commends the support Benguet Province Governor Nestor Fongwan in asking the DFA to ask the Philippine Embassy in China to assist in the repatriation of the body as soon as possible.

It also urged Mountain Province Governor Maximo Dalog in his respective effort to do the appropriate action for the immediate release of the body of Benjamin Yango in order that the body is flown home as soon as possible.

Israel-based OFW Juliet Santiago joins “fellow OFW around the world in asking your (DFA, OWWA, Philippine Embassy) favorable and mostly needed help in the repatriation of our brother’s body back home”.

In the same vein, said petition urged the concerned offices to intervene and ask Wang Ying, the school owner-employer of Benjamin Yango to provide the corresponding financial assistance for Yango.