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The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it will provide financial assistance to the relatives of the two Filipino Overseas Workers (OFW) who died in an explosion in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday.
In a statement, the Secretary of Labor and Employment, Silvestre H. Bello, identified the victims as Clark Bacud Gasis and Merriner Goc-ong Bertoces.
Gasis, 39, is an electrical draftsman from Surigao del Sur and Bertoces, 26, is a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) employee from Abu Dhabi from Negros Oriental.
Bello said they will both receive P120,000 bereavement assistance from the government, as well as insurance benefits, if they are qualified members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
The Bishop of Balanga, Ruperto Santos, lamented the disappearance of the two OFWs, whom he described as heroes.
The president of the Philippine Conference of Catholic Bishops – Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) urged the faithful to pray for the souls of Gasis and Bertoces.
“We, at CBCP-ECMI, commend their souls to the mercy of God and we are praying for the strength of their families to hold onto God and rise from this tragic event,” Santos said.
The prelate also thanked the Philippine embassy officials for their assistance to the two OFWs and their families.
The two OFWs were among 28 people, who were featured in an explosion at a KFC restaurant along Airport Road in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on August 31, 2020.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) said there were eight other Filipinos affected by the incident, including two children.
“Six of them were immediately taken to Sheik Khalifa Medical Center (SKMC) for treatment. Five of the injured have already been discharged while the other identified as Rodel Paclibar remained in the hospital for further observation, ”Bello said, citing the POLO report.
He said the two Filipino children, who were injured in the incident, were also out of danger.
