The family of AJ Sico, a victim of the Lapu Lapu tragedy, claims bureaucratic obstacles hinder their access to necessary assistance following the incident that left him severely injured and created financial challenges for his family.
The family of AJ Sico, a survivor of the tragic Lapu Lapu incident at a Filipino festival, is facing significant bureaucratic hurdles that impede their ability to secure essential benefits for his recovery. AJ sustained severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, and nerve damage, which have left him mostly non-verbal and unable to walk. The tragic event resulted in the loss of his cousin, Jendhel May Sico, among the 11 fatalities, further intensifying the family's grief and the need for support during this challenging period.
Compounding their struggle is the family's difficulty in navigating the system to access benefits such as Canada Pension Plan and provincial disability support. Technicalities related to income tax have complicated their applications, and the family's reliance on wage replacement benefits from ICBC has led to a denial of provincial disability benefits eligibility. This leaves them in a precarious situation where they require financial assistance for AJ’s care, yet are blocked by procedural requirements that seem arbitrary.
Responding to these concerns, Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Sheila Malcolmson has encouraged the family to persist in applying for the necessary support, highlighting the availability of navigators to assist them through the complicated process. This situation reflects broader issues with bureaucratic inefficiencies that can result in vulnerable individuals and families, like the Sicos, being left without adequate support in times of critical need, emphasizing a need for systemic reform to better assist those impacted by tragedies.
