Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-CAR) OIC regional director Evelyn Laranang, last March 29 handed a P120,000 check to Julio Dacanay, the father of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jhona Kilbas Dacanay, who died in Hongkong last February 13, 2011.

The said assistance covers the death and burial benefits of Jhona as an active OWWA member.

According to OWWA-CAR Labor Communication officer Florence Macatangay, Jhona, 29 years old of Poblacion, Mankayan, Benguet, was found unconscious by her employer and was brought to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hongkong, where she died after more than a month of confinement.

Aside from the death benefits, OWWA will also provide education assistance to the three children of Jhona and livelihood assistance to her family under the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP).

Jhona’s eldest, Kate Angelica (10 years old) will be given a subsidized scholarship of P5,000 per year while she is in grade school, then P8,000 per year in high school, and P5,000 per semester in her college education.

Under the OWWA ELAP program, a deceased active OFW is entitled to only one beneficiary. However, in Jhona’s case, her other two children, Harold Dale (8 years old) and Zyra Nicole (4 years old) will be recipients of OWWA’s Tuloy Aral Project, from elementary up to college. They will also be given financial assistance of $100/year while they are in elementary and high school and P7,500.00/semester while in college.

The two younger children of Jhona are also beneficiaries of philanthropists from Hong Kong, who are willing and whole-heartedly take care of the responsibility of supporting their educational expenses until they complete their college education.

In addition, Jhona’s family is also qualified for a financial assistance worth P15,000 to help them start a piggery business to augment their family’s income. Entrepreneurial skills training will also be offered to the family to ensure the viability of their business.

Under the ELAP program, OWWA-CAR already provided assistance to the children and family of 23 other deceased OFWs. For the Educational component OWWA-CAR already released P152,000 and P240,000 for the livelihood component benefiting 43 families members and dependents of OFWs. *(PIA CAR)