3 confirmed dead due to Florita

MANILA, Philippines — Three persons were reported to have died because of Severe Tropical Storm Florita, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.

In a situational report, it said two of the deaths were already confirmed: a 63-year-old man from Cagayan and a 56-year-old man from Kalinga who were both hit by falling trees.

The third case is said to be a 32-year-old man from Camarines Sur who drowned.

The NDRRMC said 11,953 families in 392 barangays were affected by the typhoon. Of the families, 1,726 are considered displaced and are staying in 129 evacuation centers.

In Central Luzon, the regional disaster response management division of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 3 identified 264 families or 947 persons as affected by Florita. Of that number, 843 were from Zambales, 73 in Aurora, 23 in Bataan and eight in Tarlac.

It also reported flooding in 31 barangays of 12 towns in the provinces of Aurora, Tarlac, Zambales and Bataan.

In Pampanga, 26 villages in Masantol town and one in the City of San Fernando are still flooded.

Venus Rebuldela, DSWD-3 regional director, said 16,520 family food packs were already brought to the provinces for easy access. Also prepositioned were P6.57 million worth of family kits, sleeping kits, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, laminated sacks, plastic mats, modular tents and kitchen utensils.

Emergency loans

Meanwhile, the state-run pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will grant emergency loans to members and pensioners who are living or working in areas affected by the typhoon.

Wick Veloso, GSIS president and general manager, said the agency would ensure that its members and pensioners receive financial assistance, through its emergency loan, to help them recover.

GSIS members who have an existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P40,000 to pay off their previous balance and still receive a maximum net amount of P20,000.

Those without existing emergency obligations, as well as pensioners may apply for a P20,000 loan.

GSIS said active members who are residing or working and the old and disabled pensioners in affected areas may apply for the loan after these have been declared under a state of calamity.

Qualified to apply are members who are in active service and not on leave of absence without pay and have at least three months of paid premiums within the last six months. Those with no pending administrative or criminal cases, and have a net take-home pay of not lower than P5,000 after all required monthly obligations have been deducted may also do so.

Apart from the emergency loan, Veloso noted that members could also avail themselves of the Multipurpose Loan Plus, which has a loan ceiling of up to P5 million.

Pensioners, on the other hand, may borrow up to six-months’ worth of their pension under the enhanced Pension Loan program of up to P500,000.

As part of its Adopt-a-School Program, the GSIS would, in partnership with the Department of Education, also provide financial assistance of P400,000 each to six schools in Northern Luzon. The package of assistance includes support for technology and assistive learning devices, infrastructure and furniture. – Ric Sapnu, Louise Maureen Simeon, Rainier Allan Ronda