TOO LITTLE, TOO SOON Aimee, 7, (with rescuers) died of hypothermia Friday. Her father and brother are still missing. DENNIS JAY SANTOS /INQUIRER MINDANAO
MANILA, Philippines—The mother of Aimee Kay Sayson, the 7-year-old girl who died of hypothermia after being rescued in typhoon-devastated New Bataan town in Compostela Valley on Wednesday, is finally home.
According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), the girl’s mother, Inideth Sayson, arrived on Friday from Hong Kong, where she works as a domestic helper.
Owwa Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said the agency’s regional officers were coordinating with Sayson about receiving assistance from the government.
“We will offer her livelihood assistance if she … wants to stay here for good. Our regional officers are still assessing what other kind of help or assistance the family needs,” Dimzon said in an interview with the Inquirer on Saturday.
Aimee was rescued on Wednesday, a day after Typhoon “Pablo” hit New Bataan. But she was pronounced dead on arrival at Davao Regional Hospital on the same day.
Aimee had been half-submerged in muddy floodwaters for nearly a day when she was found by the rescuers.
Dimzon said Owwa officers in areas affected by Typhoon Pablo were looking into records to determine if there were other families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who had been affected by the disaster.
“We’re ready to provide relief assistance to affected families of our OFWs,” Dimzon said.
The Philippine Coast Guard dispatched canine units on Saturday in the search for missing people in New Bataan.
“We have already sent four {sniffer dogs] and their handlers. They will [join the search] for the missing [people] in New Bataan,” Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesperson, said.