Magpale, PJ extend aid to Naga, Toledo victims

Despite their differences, both acting Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale and Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district quickly   extended cash assistanceand medical services for  victims of vehicular crashes in Naga and Toledo cities last week.

Magpale went to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) to arrange for blood transfusions and CT scans for victims with severe  injuries hours  after the Jan. 16  collision of a bus and trailer truck in Naga City.

At least ten people  died in the smashup.

Social worker Evelyn Senajon said they sent   26 victims  to  Cebu Doctors Hospital to undergo CT scans for  head injuries. Four were discharged.

The Province of Cebu was ready to foot the bill for the tests but the truck owner WT Construction offered to  help, she said.

Families of the dead victims each received  P5,000 cash assistance and one sack of rice from the Capitol, she said. The medical bills of other victims were  charged to the Province.

The acting governor  issued  check payments for P700,000 to the government hospital to answer for past and current medical services.

In a press statement, Liberal Party (LP) chairman HIlario Davide III thanked Magpale for rushing to the hospital to attend to the emergency hospitalization needs with the social worker “without fanfare”. He said Magpale was at the hospital from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

In the Toledo road accident, nurse Rose Jao of the Integrated Provincial Health Office was sent to assist victims.

For his part, Congressman  Garcia said P20,000 will be given to each family of the fatalities in the Naga collision while those injured will get P10,000 each from his  Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) deposited at the Capitol.

He said he hopes politics will not stop the distribution of aid.

“I hope Vice Gov. Magaple will not do anything to prevent or hamper the release of my funds,” he said.

He claimed that “up to now neither the families or VSMMC have heard from the Capitol, WTCI or BT bus liner what assistance they will be extending.”

“I was at VSMMC and heard the concerns of victims and families regarding the lack of certainty as to what the Capitol or the private parties are willing to cover. I hope this will assuage their fears,” he said.

About 95 percent of the victims are from Cebu’s 3rd district.  Of the 53 victims sent to the VSMMC, three were dead on arrival while one died in the emergency room, he said.

Most of the victims suffered fractures and head wounds. Garcia said his staff will  help arrange the the transfer of remains of  fatalities back to Toledo City and pay for the meals of their  families at the hospital.

The standard insurance coverage of accident victims in public utility vehicles is P75,000 for death benefit and up to P15,000 reimbursment for the injured.

Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said he coordinated with PAMI to release half of insuarance  payables to families of the dead by Monday for the Naga incident.

“For the Toledo crash, we are summoning the operator to the office by Monday.  We will make sure the insurance benefits will also be released soonest,” Cuizon said.