Isko Moreno calls for quick gov’t response to insurance claims of ‘Odette’ victims

FILE PHOTO: Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. Screenshot from Radyo Inquirer.

MANILA, Philippines — Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has called on the Insurance Commission (IC) to speed up the processing of insurance claims of Typhoon Odette victims who have lost everything in the aftermath of the most destructive cyclone to hit the country this year.

“Ako po ay nananawagan sa Insurance Commission na pabilisin ang pag-proseso ng claim ng insurance para makatulong sa ating mga kababayan na nabiktima ng Bagyong Odette. ‘Yung kanilang mga bahay at negosyo ay wasak, kaya kailangan maging mabilis ang aksyon ng mga insurance company,” Moreno told some 2,000 people, mostly farmers and agricultural workers, in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

“At yung ating gobyerno na ating ianaasahan ay dapat mabilis ang kilos at ‘yung mga insurance company dapat maibigay agad ‘yung claim nung mga biktima dahil napakahirap ng buhay sa lugar na binagyo ni Odette,” he also said.

The IC is the government arm that regulates and supervises insurance, pre-need, and HMO industries. The agency is under the administrative control of the Department of Finance (DOF).

According to the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer, speeding up the insurance claims of the victims would be a big help in rebuilding their shattered lives, many of whom have lost their homes and livelihoods.

“Ito ay makakapagbigay ng tulong sa mga pamilyang nasira ang tahanan at negosyo sa kanilang mga lugar,” he said.

Typhoon Odette pummeled the country last week as a super typhoon packing wind speeds of 195 kilometers per hour. It made nine landfalls – Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte; Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands; Liloan, Southern Leyte; Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte; President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol; Bien Unido, Bohol; Carcar, Cebu; La Libertad, Negros Oriental; and Roxas, Palawan – before leaving the Philippines on Saturday afternoon.

The severe tropical storm left widespread destruction in areas along its path, flooding communities, uprooting trees, knocking off houses and buildings, cutting electricity supply, and impairing communication lines.

Moreno also called on the DOF’s Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to immediately process the claims of the thousands of farmers and fisherfolks also badly affected by Odette.

PCIC is the government agency that provides insurance protection to farmers against losses arising from natural calamities, plant diseases, and pest infestations of their palay and corn crops, as well as other farm produce.

Moreno pointed out that losses to crops are more devastating to farmers’ finances because most of them have small landholdings and rely mostly on credit.

“Irinaraos niyo ang buhay niyo, tapos iwawasiwas lang ng bagyo. Kailangan andyan ang gobyerno para magkaroon ng kapanatagan na meron siyang masasandalan, na ‘yung tinanim niya, ano’t anong mangyari, meron siyang gobyernong masasandalan pagka oras ng delubyo, oras ng aberya. Kasi mamumuhunan ka ng pera, ng panahon, ng lakas ng katawan, at naghihintay ka na lang ng ani, ng bunga, biglang darating ‘yung bagyo. Wasak lahat ‘yung hanapbuhay mo,” Moreno said.

“So talagang mahirap. Kaya kailangan may program ‘yung gobyerno na bigyan ng kapanatagan ang ating mga kababayan dahil ang bansa natin ay sigurado naman laging may sakuna,” he said.