CEBU, Philippines — The provincial government will extend P10,000 in financial assistance to each of the families of nine students killed in the wake of the dump truck accident in Boljoon town last week.
Wilson Ramos, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said this will be in addition to the relief goods the Capitol already distributed to the bereaved families last Saturday.
Ramos said the P10,000 amount was based on the guidelines set forth by the Commission on Audit and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
He did not specify, though, when exactly the aid would be handed out.
The injured victims will also receive P5,000 in financial assistance from the provincial government, which also promised to shoulder their medical expenses.
“Ang uban human na ang CT scan, naa nay results. Ang uban, human na sad og opera. Tapos naa say uban nga scheduled for operation – katong tauranan og stainless (Some have already undergone CT scans with results. Others are done with their operation. Still, some are scheduled for operation—those who need stainless),” Ramos said.
One of those awaiting surgery is a six-year-old student-athlete who broke both her legs from the accident. Advice from the pediatrician and the pulmonary doctor are still being sought since the patient is still young.
As of this writing, 13 students are still admitted at Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital and one is in the intensive care unit of Chong Hua, fighting for life.
Nine children died while 22 others were injured when driver Danielo Nieres allegedly lost control of the dumpt truck on a downhill portion of the road to the town proper where the students were to attend an event organized by the Department of Education.
The nine were already laid to rest on Sunday.
Ramos said they distributed on Saturday sacks of rice, canned goods, and coffee to the families when Governor Gwendolyn Garcia visited the mass wake of those who perished. (FREEMAN)