INQUIRER Global Nation

Relatives of fishermen who perished at sea because of Typhoon Frank may qualify for a P10,000 cash assistance from the government.

Neil Angelo Sanchez, information officer of the Office of Civil Defense, told a Philippine Information Agency (PIA) forum that this amount is intended only for victims outside of the MV Princess of the Stars disaster.

He said the claimants should be relatives of those who died when the typhoon hit Central Visayas but had nothing to do with the sinking of the Sulpicio Lines-owned passenger vessel.

“They have to get papers from the local social worker,” he added.

Sanchez also said that the OCD is still formulating the mechanics of the financial aid.

But once the guidelines have been reviewed and approved, the cash would be released to the claimants at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) office.

“We were already able to release cash recently to (the relatives of) a family based in Carcar who (drowned while) crossing an overflowing river,” said Sanchez. /Editorial Assistant Ma. Bernadette A. Parco