MANILA – The Social Security System said Monday it set aside P1.61 billion to assist members who were affected by super typhoon “Ompong” (“Mangkhut”).
Qualified SSS members can each avail of up to P16,000 calamity loan, a three-month advance on their pensions and direct house repair and improvement loan, the pension fund said in a statement.
Some 800,000 SSS members were affected by “Ompong,” which brought floods and landslides to parts of Luzon in September, the agency said in a statement.
Those applying for assistance must reside in areas declared as under a calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council . These include: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga,Tarlac, and Zambales.
The helpline was opened on Oct. 5, the SSS said. Those who are still paying their restructured loan balance and previous calamity loans, as well as those with final benefit claims are not qualified for benefits related to “Ompong.” (ABS-CBN News)
