Medical and welfare interventions for overseas Filipino workers took center stage in Abu Dhabi as the Philippine government extended on-site assistance during the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo: OFW Mini Serbisyo Caravan held on January 13, 2026.
The activity was marked by the presence of First Lady Marie Louise Araneta‑Marcos, who personally engaged with Filipino workers seeking help, including families facing urgent health crises. Among those she met were the parents of seven-year-old Andrey, a child diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and currently confined in the intensive care unit. Following the encounter, instructions were issued for immediate coordination to secure the child’s required treatment and surgical intervention, including arrangements for an air ambulance from Abu Dhabi.
Government agencies were directed to act swiftly, with both the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration tasked to facilitate medical assistance and related support for the family.
Beyond individual cases, the caravan also served as a platform for broader medical aid. More than 100 overseas Filipinos undergoing cancer treatment in Abu Dhabi received financial and health-related support during the visit, with additional assistance provided on top of existing programs administered by DMW and OWWA.
The outreach formed part of the administration’s overseas engagements under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., with government agencies instructed to ensure continuous coordination on pending medical cases endorsed during the Abu Dhabi service activity.
