OCD releases P55.15-M cash aid for ‘Yolanda’ victims

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 6 (PNA) -– The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has released a total of PHP55.15-million assistance to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in the past two years.

OCD Regional Director Edgar Posadas said a big chunk of the PHP89.28-million funds endorsed to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council has been released as of the third week of January.

Posadas confirmed that they are still receiving applications for cash aid from families of super typhoon victims more than three years after the catastrophe.

After submitting the required documents, the survivor-beneficiary is entitled to receive P10,000 compensation for the death of a family member. Those injured can claim P5,000 cash.

“We have been receiving even until now because it is only after three years that people accepted the loss of their loved ones,” Posadas said.

Of the P55.15 million disbursed, P43.43 million were given to families who lost their loved ones and P11.72 million for the injured.

The OCD documented 4,555 dead and 8,746 wounded by the super typhoon that pummeled Eastern Visayas region on Nov. 8, 2013.

“We cannot speculate on how many will actually receive the assistance unless there is documentation,” Posadas added.

Initially, the OCD had set the December 2016 deadline to accept application of claims, but Posadas said they will continue to process documents this year as long as there are still requests. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO