The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is continuing to extend comprehensive medical, financial, and legal assistance to 33 Filipino nationals affected by a fatal tourist bus crash in Bavaria, Germany.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that the government is covering medical expenses, transportation needs, and immediate welfare assistance for the affected individuals, while also deploying psychosocial interventions and financial aid to support victims and their families.
Cacdac stated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued explicit directives to ensure the immediate and long-term needs of all affected Filipinos are fully addressed.
The bus accident occurred on the A96 highway near Buchloe, Bavaria, as the chartered vehicle carrying 33 Filipino tourists departed Milan, Italy, bound for Munich. The crash resulted in two fatalities.
Two Filipinos remain hospitalized in Bavaria receiving medical care, including one patient who underwent an amputation and additional surgical procedures. Meanwhile, passengers discharged from local hospitals following treatment for minor injuries have safely returned to Milan, where they were received by the Philippine Consulate General and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO).
Secretary Cacdac emphasized that the Philippine government is actively pursuing legal remedies and civil or criminal accountability regarding the tragedy. The DMW, working alongside the Philippine Consulate General offices in Frankfurt and Milan, as well as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), is engaging legal counsel in both Germany and Italy to examine liability involving the bus company, operators and drivers.
Labor and consular officials are currently gathering formal witness statements from discharged Filipino passengers to strengthen the case and ensure justice is served for the victims and the deceased. Repatriation arrangements for the remains of the two victims are also underway in coordination with German authorities.