CARD MRI extends assistance to thousands of families affected by typhoon Yolanda

From the day the typhoon subsided, the management of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), a social development institution immediately proceeded to the hardly hit areas to assess damages and identify needs in the areas.  A concerted effort of relief assistance and insurance payments was immediately organized anchored by its Disaster Response Team led by the Community Development Group of CARD, Inc. and its microinsurance provider, CARD Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. (CARD MBA, Inc.). The effort is steered to benefit about 300,000 families in all the affected areas.

Disaster Response Efforts

As of December 17, 2013, CARD MRI has distributed relief goods containing food and medicines to 179,476 affected CARD MRI members and 156 staff. The cost for relief assistance has already reached to Php71.7 Million.  Life insurance and re-house were also paid immediately amounting to Php1.25 Million and Php18.1Million respectively.  Despite the difficulty in transferring funds to Samar and Leyte, CARD MBA, Inc. and CARD MRI Insurance Agency was able to pay claims within the 1-3-5 day target of the two member institutions of CARD MRI.

A team from the CARD MRI head offices goes to the badly hit areas every week to ensure that the needs of members and staff are well attended to and that claims payments are paid within the target through the field staff of CARD MRI.

A medical assistance was also conducted in selected towns in Samar for the benefit of the survivors.  Another will be conducted in Panay Island.  These activities are part of the joint project of MFIs for Health wherein ASA Philippines, KCCDFI and NWTF have confirmed their commitments to participate in the said joint community health days.

Campaigns for donations in cash and in kind was also spearheaded which resulted to a positive response from people whose hearts are willing to help and serve.  CARD MRI Head Office received donation in kind and in cash from different partner foundations and organizations, private individuals, and CARD MRI management and staff.

Part of the donations are from Center for Women and Community Development and CFRC/M7 Microfinance Network in Vietnam, EMI and MFC in Laos, Freedom From Hunger in USA, People’s Bank of CARAGA, Southeast Asia Inter-Disciplinary Institute (SAIDI), and BDO Foundation (for relief packs for Samar) in the Philippines, and LIP/Music Securities/Akiko Sugiyama and Gojo and Company in Japan. Support from private individuals from Israel, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, USA, Philippines was also pouring.

There are also pledged and confirmed donations from the Savings Bank Foundation for International Cooperation (SBFIC), Oikocredit, Grameen Foundation USA, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance c/o Mr. Taichi Watanabe and Microloan Foundation c/o Mr. Anton Simanowitz. Several CARD MRI partners and friends have also expressed commitment to send their donations as follows: Ms. Janet McKinley and Mr. George Miller; Mr. Joe Higdon; CARD MRI OFW Foundation Hong Kong; additional funds from FFH; additional funds from SBFIC; Give2Asia; Hybrid Social Solutions (Solar lamps); and Sumitomo Chemical Japan (Olyset Mosquito Net).

No Obstacle is too Difficult

Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, CARD MRI Founder and Managing Director, joined in the first search and assessment operation to personally extend assistance and to visit the members, staff and branches affected by the storm surge.  Although communications and power are down and roads are impassable, CARD MRI is among the first organizations to extend assistance in the hardly hit areas.

“It is very heartwarming to note that donations in kind are pouring at our head office from our clients, partners, staff and the general community. At this difficult time, let us all join hands and offer our warm hearts to all affected by Yolanda.” said Dr. Alip.

CARD MRI would also like to recognize the support of its international partners and manpower contributions of the many civic organizations and private citizens, staff, clients and their families who helped in the repacking of relief goods in several repacking stations of CARD MRI in San Pablo, Cebu, Surigao, Calbayog and the rest of the affected areas where repacking stations are strategically stationed.

CARD MRI extends assistance to thousands of families affected by typhoon Yolanda