The Philippine government has committed to shoulder the full cost of the air ambulance transfer and related assistance for seven-year-old Andrey Limbaring, a Filipino child currently confined in an intensive care unit in Abu Dhabi due to complications from a rare malignant brain tumor.
Andrey, the son of an overseas Filipino worker based in the United Arab Emirates, has been battling brain cancer since he was diagnosed in November 2019, when he was just about a year old. Over the past several years, he has undergone four major brain surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and two courses of radiation therapy following repeated tumor recurrences.
As first reported by The Global Filipino Magazine, his condition worsened in recent weeks after doctors noted tumor progression affecting his brainstem, leading to severe breathing difficulties. He was admitted to the ICU and placed on ventilator support after losing the ability to cough on his own. Medical teams are currently focused on stabilizing him and safely weaning him off the ventilator, as prolonged respiratory support could require a tracheostomy.
Last September, scans revealed another tumor recurrence, prompting doctors in the UAE to inform the family that available treatment options locally had already been exhausted. Specialists recommended further surgery and chemotherapy abroad, where advanced care for complex pediatric brain tumor cases is available. Due to Andrey’s fragile condition, an air ambulance was identified as the only safe means of transfer.
On his visit to the hospital, Hans Leo J. Cacdac, Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, met with Andrey’s parents and offered prayers and words of encouragement. He assured the family that the Philippine government would provide full assistance for their child’s medical transfer and care.
According to the DMW, the department, together with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, will cover the entire cost of Andrey’s air ambulance transfer to his medical treatment facility in Taiwan. Additional support, including accommodation and other essential services for the family, will also be provided.
The intervention comes after weeks of uncertainty for the family, who had been appealing for public support amid mounting medical expenses and logistical challenges. Insurance coverage was no longer available following Andrey’s diagnosis, leaving the family reliant on charitable assistance and personal resources to cover urgent medical needs.
Government officials said the assistance is being extended in line with the directive of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has instructed agencies to deliver swift and compassionate support to overseas Filipino workers and their families during medical and humanitarian emergencies.
Coordination between Philippine authorities, medical teams in the UAE, and the receiving hospital abroad is ongoing as doctors determine when Andrey will be medically cleared for transfer.
