CARD MBA releases PHP28 million disaster aid

The CARD Mutual Benefit Association (CARD MBA) initially disbursed a total of PHP28 million worth of disaster aid for the 95,334 affected families of Typhoon Josie in Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and Nueva Ecija.

These families are the microfinance clients of the four financial institutions of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI). Along with the financial service, they also receive non-financial service such as CARD MRI Disaster Relief Assistance Program (CDRAP) under CARD MBA. This program was introduced in 2006 as part of CARD MRI’s strategy to eradicate poverty in the country.

“Our team at CARD MBA and the operations of CARD MRI are still on the ground to validate the status of our clients. Initially, we were able to record more than 95,000 affected clients,” said May S. Dawat, chief executive of CARD MBA.

CARD MBA is the microinsurance arm of CARD MRI that is fully owned and managed by the microfinance clients of CARD MRI financial institutions.

In the report of the disaster management team of CARD MRI, at least 19,008 families are microfinance clients of CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO), 44,128 from CARD Bank, Inc., 28,882 from CARD SME Bank, Inc., and 3,316 from Rizal Bank, Inc.

“Days before the typhoon and up until now, we were already preparing the relief goods and medicines needed by our clients so it will become available right after the typhoon recedes,” said Deolito C. Valdemar, chair of the disaster management team.

Re-house program

CARD MRI group, through CARD Pioneer Microinsurance Inc. (CPMI) and CARD MRI Insurance Agency (CaMIA), also has non-life microinsurance products that cover the re-house program of its policy holders. Of the 240 policy holders in the typhoon affected area, 26 were already validated as affected and are entitled to recieve re-house claims.

“We have deployed additional staff on the ground to ensure that all affected areas will be validated soonest possible time” said CAMIA President Vener Abellera, adding that once the area become passable, they will continue their validation process for the remaining 214 clients.

“We at CARD MRI are always committed to be responsive to the needs of our members especially in difficult situations like this,” said Flordeliza L. Sarmiento, managing director of CARD MRI. Sarmiento personally visited the unit office of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan on July 23, 2018 to monitor the institution’s disaster management activities.

CARD MRI is a group of 21 institutions including CARD MBA, CPMI, CaMIA, and the four financial institutions that aims to eradicate poverty in the Philippines through microfinance and community development services like education, health, and disaster management, among others.