Help sought for ailing OFW with unpaid hospital bills in Jeddah
A 54-year-old Filipino worker who suffered a stroke late last year in Saudi Arabia is in need of government assistance to be able to come home to his family in Pampanga.
Restituto “Resty” Galigao is currently at the Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital where he was brought last November 28 after suffering a major heart attack at a friend's house.
“As the nation observes the anniversary of the signing of the Migrant Workers’ Act of 1995, we ask that our government extend humanitarian assistance to this ailing OFW,” said the Blas F. Ople Center, a non-government organization that assists distressed OFWs, in a statement Monday.
Galigao's case was brought to the attention of the Ople Center by another NGO, the Filipino Lifeline, headed by a former OFW named Edward Era.
The center said Galigao's eldest daughter, Cynthia, recently lost her job as a contractual worker. His youngest daughter, Reynalyn, meanwhile said they have been buying lotto tickets in the hope of winning the jackpot so that they could shoulder the medical bills of their father.
“The family has absolutely no means to pay for Resty’s medical bills,” the center said, adding the family lives in a resettlement site in Arayat, Pampanga. “The amount has snowballed to 200,000 Saudi Riyals or around 2.5 million pesos.”
The center said Galigao, works as a part-time driver and has been staying in Jeddah without a permanent job and proper work and residency documents, was in and out of comatose until his condition stabilized.
“As such, he was not covered by the required company health insurance during the time of cardiac arrest,” the center said.
Reynalyn said before her father suffered a heart attack, he would send them P7,000 to P15,000 every two months “depending on how much he was able to earn and save.”
Last March, the same hospital called the attention of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah due to the unpaid account of OFW Edgar Pepito, who was admitted by the same hospital in July 21, 2014 due to cardiac arrest.
Pepito’s hospital bill amounted to 60,125.21 SR, but the OFW was discharged on the basis of a guarantee letter signed by the vice-consul at that time.
According to the hospital, the Philippine Consulate, despite a written guarantee, has failed to complete its payment, leaving behind a balance of 47,475.21 SR.
“We would like to appeal to the appropriate agencies of government to come to the aid of seriously ill OFWs such as Resty Galigao. The family has no other means to pay for his hospital bills. We also wish to remind the Philippine Consulate of its obligation to settle the bill of OFW Edgar Pepito since no less than the credibility of our government is at stake,” the Ople Center said. —KBK, GMA News
Restituto “Resty” Galigao is currently at the Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital where he was brought last November 28 after suffering a major heart attack at a friend's house.
“As the nation observes the anniversary of the signing of the Migrant Workers’ Act of 1995, we ask that our government extend humanitarian assistance to this ailing OFW,” said the Blas F. Ople Center, a non-government organization that assists distressed OFWs, in a statement Monday.
Galigao's case was brought to the attention of the Ople Center by another NGO, the Filipino Lifeline, headed by a former OFW named Edward Era.
The center said Galigao's eldest daughter, Cynthia, recently lost her job as a contractual worker. His youngest daughter, Reynalyn, meanwhile said they have been buying lotto tickets in the hope of winning the jackpot so that they could shoulder the medical bills of their father.
“The family has absolutely no means to pay for Resty’s medical bills,” the center said, adding the family lives in a resettlement site in Arayat, Pampanga. “The amount has snowballed to 200,000 Saudi Riyals or around 2.5 million pesos.”
The center said Galigao, works as a part-time driver and has been staying in Jeddah without a permanent job and proper work and residency documents, was in and out of comatose until his condition stabilized.
“As such, he was not covered by the required company health insurance during the time of cardiac arrest,” the center said.
Reynalyn said before her father suffered a heart attack, he would send them P7,000 to P15,000 every two months “depending on how much he was able to earn and save.”
Last March, the same hospital called the attention of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah due to the unpaid account of OFW Edgar Pepito, who was admitted by the same hospital in July 21, 2014 due to cardiac arrest.
Pepito’s hospital bill amounted to 60,125.21 SR, but the OFW was discharged on the basis of a guarantee letter signed by the vice-consul at that time.
According to the hospital, the Philippine Consulate, despite a written guarantee, has failed to complete its payment, leaving behind a balance of 47,475.21 SR.
“We would like to appeal to the appropriate agencies of government to come to the aid of seriously ill OFWs such as Resty Galigao. The family has no other means to pay for his hospital bills. We also wish to remind the Philippine Consulate of its obligation to settle the bill of OFW Edgar Pepito since no less than the credibility of our government is at stake,” the Ople Center said. —KBK, GMA News
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