Barili victims receive cash aid

CEBU, Philippines - Around 20 victims of the Barili dump truck mishap formally received financial aid from the local government of Barili on Friday.

Barili town Mayor Teresito Mariñas gave P2,000 to the victims as financial assistance from the municipal government.

Mariñas said it was the last batch of assistance that they gave to the survivors of the incident, adding that it was only for the victims who had minor injuries.

“Last batch na to, kadto tong mga nakasinati og minor injuries. Ato man gyud nga gi-pangtambalan ang tanang mga biktima adtong hitaboa,” Marinyas said.

The mayor had distributed P3, 000 financial assistance to 16 victims earlier confined at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

He also gave P5, 000 as financial assistance to the family of the 12 fatalities. In total, the Barili government has given P200, 000 which they got from the emergency assistance fund of the town for the injured victims and relatives of those who died in the Barili mishap.

Mariñas said they also assisted in providing coffins for the fatalities.

Cebu third district congressman Pablo John Garcia and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia also gave financial assistance to the injured and families of 12 fatalities.

To recall, it was last August 18, 2011 when a truck owned by the municipal government of Barili figured in the accident that claimed 12 lives.

 The truck was filled with friends and relatives of 69-year-old Tranquelina Jagbil who was supposed to be buried later that afternoon at the town’s cemetery.

The said dump truck was driven Alwin Bayno who has been charged for the incident.

According to the police, the truck was going downhill when the truck’s rubber cap exploded. Most of the fatalities died on the spot while others died in the hospital a few hours after the accident.

The latest fatality following the incident, was sixteen-year-old Jesse Diagbel and seventy-five-year-old Pedro Diagbel who both died in the hospital a few days after the Barili mishap. (FREEMAN)