Parents of lamp explosion victims sign MOA with city

CEBU, Philippines - The parents of the two babies burned in a lamp explosion at the Cebu City Medical Center last February have entered into an agreement with the Cebu City Government to formalize the aid they will continue to receive from the city as compensation for their injuries.

Roland and Michelle Villarico, parents of baby Kean Carl Villarico, and Gail Gonzaga and Maricris Ibañez, parents of Harry Vincent Gonzaga, signed the MOA with Mayor Michael Rama yesterday.

Under the MOA, the city government will pay all the hospital and medical expenses incurred and will be incurred by the children, provided that the expenses are related to the February 20 incident.

Three babies suffered injuries when the gooseneck lamps used to warm them at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the CCMC exploded last February 20, where baby Kean Carl Villarico suffered the most injury.

Baby Harry Vincent was also seriously injured on his left arm while Baby Girl Maglasang fortunately did not suffer much from burns.

It is specifically provided in the MOA that Baby Kean, having suffered the most injuries will continue to receive free hospitalization and medication including the hospital bills, medicines, regular check-up, professional fees of the physician who are employees and consultants in CCMC, laboratory fees, plastic surgery and skin graft procedures to restore the functionality of his affected parts.

The city will also pay the hospital expenses of Baby Kean when he was admitted at the Chong Hua Hospital.

Eight-month old Baby Kean is set to undergo another surgery next month to straighten his left arm.

His last surgery was in March where he underwent a skin grafting. He will undergo a plastic surgery once he turns two years old.

The city government also ensured the primary and secondary education of the babies by enrolling them to any government or public education institution.

The aid for education will extend to tertiary level where the city will shoulder the tuition and miscellaneous fees for the injured babies when they enter college.

By signing the MOA, the parents have already given up their right to sue the city government over the accident.

Under Section II of the Obligations of the Second Party provision, the parents agreed to waive any and all claims against the city government.

“That the SECOND PARTY (parents) hereby releases and forever discharges the FIRST PARTY (city government) from any and all demands and cause of action of whatever nature arising out of the said incident,” the MOA reads.

Michelle Villarico said they signed the MOA because they have no plans of suing the city. She said her child is getting the medical attention he needs aside from some medicines that they need to buy using money from their pockets because the medicines are not available in the City’s Hospitalization Assistance and Medical Program (CHAMP).

Her husband, Roland also got a job from the city’s Department of Manpower Development and Placement.

Roland used to be a baker. When city hall accommodated him for a job, he was hired as a casual employee of DMDP where he teaches culinary arts.

Gonzaga, on the other hand, is now working at the Parks and Playground Commission as a job order employee. Gonzaga’s partner, Ibañez appealed to Mayor Michael Rama to hire him as a casual employee because Gonzaga has not received his salary for two months now since he started working last August 15.

Gonzaga used to be a trisikad driver in Punta Princesa where he earns P100 a day. — (FREEMAN)