Abu dhabi: The 7-year-old son of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Abu Dhabi has been airlifted to Taiwan to receive specialized treatment for a malignant brain tumor, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
According to Philippines News Agency, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated that the DMW, in collaboration with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), coordinated the air ambulance for Andrey and his family's transport. This action followed a directive from First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
Cacdac elaborated that the First Lady instructed the DMW and OWWA during the recent Bagong Bayani ng Mundo: OFW Mini-Serbisyo Caravan in Abu Dhabi, where she met the Limbaring family, to arrange an air ambulance for Andrey's transfer from the United Arab Emirates to Taiwan.
The family arrived safely in Taipei, Taiwan, at approximately 3 p.m. on Monday (Jan. 19). Upon their arrival, they were immediately taken to the hospital and received assistance from the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Taipei, which also arranged accommodation for the family.
DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay mentioned that the MWO in Taipei, led by Labor Attach© Alejandro Padaen, along with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, supported the family in their transition from the airport to the hospital, where the required medical procedures will be conducted.
Andrey's medical journey began in 2019 when he was diagnosed with a rare malignant brain tumor affecting his brainstem at the age of 1. His father, OFW Jean Lloyd Limbaring from Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, had previously appealed for help through a local Filipino magazine, 'The Global Filipino,' in Abu Dhabi last December.
Since his diagnosis, Andrey has undergone four major brain surgeries, chemotherapy, and two rounds of radiation due to multiple tumor recurrences. However, scans in September 2025 indicated another recurrence, and local doctors in the UAE had reached the limit of available treatment options.
Prompted by the family's situation, the First Lady directed the DMW and OWWA to facilitate urgent medical assistance, including arrangements for surgery and Andrey's safe transport to Taiwan.
