Live-in caregiver Elenita Pailanan died after an emergency operation in Canada. Philippine Consulate officials refused to help; and Filipino migrant groups rush to raise funds for her repatriation.

BY AUBREY MAKILAN
MIGRANT WATCH
Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 24, July 22-28, 2007

Friends of Elenita Pailanan approached the Philippine consulate in Ontario, Canada to ask for assistance in the repatriation of her remains but were told to raise the funds themselves, even if the deceased was a member of the Overseas Workers Welfare Agency (OWWA). The recruitment agency is likewise not doing anything to fulfil its responsibilities. Now the repatriation of caregiver Elita Pailanan’s remains hinges on the support of non-governmental organizations and the Filipino community in Canada.

No OHIP

On July 5,­ 25-year old Elenita “Beng-Beng” Pailanan died at York Central Hospital in Ontario, Canada after undergoing emergency surgery to remove her gall bladder.

Weeks before the operation, Pailanan, said Siklab-Ontario an advocacy group for Filipino migrants’ rights, was already experiencing recurring fevers, head and back pain, and shortness of breath. But she delayed going to the hospital for treatment until her illness became unbearable because she was not yet eligible for an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Under the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), she had to wait for three months and a valid work permit before getting OHIP coverage.

Siklab-Ontario said that because of this, the hospital administration asked Pailanan for a bond of $15,000, which was guaranteed by her employment agency, even before the operation was performed.

Pailanan arrived in Toronto April 17, 2007 on a working visa as a live-in caregiver. She was just on her third month in the host country when she died.

Denied government assistance

Pailanan, a native of Iloilo (about 465 kms. south of Manila), was the bread winner in her family. Her parents have requested that her body be immediately sent back to them but had no means to finance the repatriation.

Believing that she had benefits being an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) member, Pailanan’s friends approached the Philippine Consulate for assistance in the repatriation of her body back to her family in Iloilo.

But, Siklab-Ontario said, instead of helping them, a Consular official allegedly told Pailanan’s friends to “fundraise” for the repatriation. The group said they were told by another Consulate official that the employment agency assumed responsibility for repatriating the body. But the latter has not acted on it up to now.

Under the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 or Republic Act 8042, “the repatriation of remains and transport of the personal belongings of a deceased worker and all costs attendant thereto shall be borne by the principal and/or local agency.”

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