Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac flew to Hong Kong Tuesday morning to personally check on an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) hospitalized after a recent deadly fire and to meet with Hong Kong’s labor minister.
In a statement, the DMW disclosed that Cacdac, along with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan, went to Hong Kong to visit Rhodora Alcaraz, the only Filipino still hospitalized following the blaze at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po.
DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay confirmed that Alcaraz, a newly arrived domestic worker, is no longer in the intensive care unit and is now in stable condition.
To recall, Alcaraz was injured while reportedly rescuing the three-month-old child of her employer.
Tutay added that the DMW facilitated a compassionate visit for Alcaraz’s sibling, who left the Philippines on Monday to be with her.
The officials are also visiting the area after the fire claimed the life of another OFW, Maryan Pascual Esteban.
Tutay expressed sadness over Esteban’s passing, noting the victim leaves behind a 10-year-old son in Cainta, Rizal.
Cacdac and Caunan previously visited Esteban’s family on Sunday to offer sympathies and assure full government assistance.
OWWA will provide educational assistance up to the college level for Esteban’s child under the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program, in addition to financial aid. The local government unit has also promised monthly assistance to the family.
Meantime, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong reported that all other Filipinos affected by the incident are now safe and accounted for, with no reported missing persons.
Philippine Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. previously noted that many of the approximately 6,000 families living in the Tai Po district employ Filipino domestic workers.