Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday distributed P10,000 in financial assistance to the relatives of each of the identified Cebuano victims of the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars off Sibuyan Island in Romblon last June 21.
There were 16 claimants, so far, who received the amount for each of the 26 victims in yesterday’s list. One claimant received a total of P50,000 for five family members who were among the victims in the tragedy.
The distribution of the money was done at the Capitol’s old social hall, and some claimants cried in front of the governor right after receiving the money.
“Sayod ako nga kining among gipang apod-apod dili kini makahupay sa kasakit sa inyong kasing-kasing ... apan kitang nahabilin aduna kita’y katungdanan sa pagpadayon,” Garcia said in a short message.
The cash assistance has been part of the provincial government’s social welfare services, and is aimed to help the victims’ relatives cope with their losses. The Capitol allocated a total of P3.9 million for financial aid to a total of 390 Cebuano victims of the 800 who died in the sea tragedy.
Marivic Garces, chief of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said of the 390, there were already 175 verified relatives who were able to claim cash assistance from the government.
The governor also distributed a total of P160,000 to 29 families in Cebu who fell victim to the devastation of Typhoon Frank, which was the same storm that capsized the doomed ship.
Of the 29 families, two of them were victims of a landslide in Samboan town and each of them received P10,000.
The remaining 27 families, who were from Medellin, Madridejos and Bantayan town in Cebu’s fourth district, received P5,000. — Garry B. Lao/RAE