CARD MRI’s relief assistance aids affected families

Despite the preemptive and forced evacuations implemented in Luzon, Typhoon Ompong (international name Mangkhut), the strongest typhoon that made landfall in the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, severely struck major parts of the region.

An estimate of 5.7 million people nationwide was affected by the typhoon, which also caused around 33.7 billion pesos in damages. The damages include the tornado in Marikina, cancellation of flights and closure of airports in Northern Luzon, and the landslide in Itogon, Benguet, which were all brought about by the typhoon.

As part of gearing up for its disaster response efforts for its affected microfinance clients, the Disaster Management Committee of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) convened on September 13, 2018 to make strategies for its relief assistance efforts to immediately respond to the needs of the clients in the affected areas.

CARD MRI Founder and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip went straight to the repacking stations of CARD MRI in Luzon. “It is very heartwarming that in this kind of uncertainty, everyone at CARD MRI is working together as a family,” said Dr. Alip.

The members of the executive committee of CARD MRI were on the ground after the typhoon to repack basic necessities and to personally distribute family packs of canned goods, bottled water, clothes, and medicines in the affected areas.

In line with its efforts to provide immediate relief, CARD MRI also launched a donation drive for affected families of Typhoon Ompong wherein used clothes and toys were brought to CARD MRI offices.

Claims update
CARD Mutual Benefit Association (CARD MBA), the microinsurance arm of CARD MRI, said that more than 150,000 microfinance clients and staff of the four financial institutions of CARD MRI were affected by the typhoon and were given immediate assistance.

A total of P45.8 million worth of relief assistance, through the CARD MRI Relief Assistance Program (CDRAP) of CARD MBA, were distributed to clients from different CARD MRI offices in Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Metro Manila, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, and Rizal.

“To ensure continued and easy access to the basic needs to our affected clients, we were already preparing even days before the typhoon up until now,” said May S. Dawat, CARD MBA chief executive officer.

Unfortunately, seven of the clients and dependents were confirmed dead while three are still missing. “We are saddened with what had happened to our clients. But as a support system, we need to be strong for them. We have to make sure that we deliver the best support to them in times of uncertainties,” shared Dawat.

The clients and dependents who lost their loved ones were able to receive claims from CARD MBA within 24 hours. The immediate validation activity is part of CARD MBA’s 8-24 hours claims payment strategy, which commits to pay the claims due for its policy holders within eight hours and maximum of 24 hours right after any incident that would cost their lives and properties.

“The 8-24 settlement strategy is our pledge to our clients who trust CARD MRI. This tragedy will not hinder CARD MBA from providing our clients their needs,” emphasized Dawat.

In the recent data of CARD MRI Insurance Agency (CaMIA) and CARD Pioneer Microinsurance, Inc. (CPMI), more than 3,600 of its policyholders received a total of P6.92 million calamity aids under the SAGIP Plan and BINHI microinsurance products.

“No obstacle is too tough and no typhoon is strong enough to ruin an organization that is founded by family spirit,” said Dr. Alip.

“Rest assured that CARD MRI will continue to reach out to those in need as soon as calamities strike. Beyond any hardship that we may face, we are always ready to serve,” he added.

The CDRAP aims to give immediate relief and assistance to affected CARD members in disaster-affected areas due to natural calamities. The four financial institutions of CARD MRI are CARD, Inc., CARD Bank, Rizal Bank, Inc., and CARD SME Bank. CARD MRI is a group of 21 development oriented institutions that aims to eradicate poverty in the Philippines through microfinance and community development programs.