Government personnel inspect the exterior of a partially collapsed residential building following the April 3 earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan. The strongest earthquake in 25 years, with multiple aftershocks, has not only claimed at least nine lives and injured more than a thousand but also disrupted daily life. It has damaged structures nationwide, leading to the suspension of schools and businesses in some parts of the island.  Daniel Ceng, EPA-EFE/File

MANILA — The Social Security System (SSS) is offering its calamity loan to its members affected by the recent 7.2-magnitude quake in Taiwan, its spokesperson said Friday.

"Mag-o-offer ang SSS ng loan assistance para sa mga OFW sa Taiwan na naapektuhan ng recent na quake doon," SSS spokesperson Marissa Mapalo told Teleradyo Serbisyo.

(The SSS will offer loan assistance to Filipinos affected by the recent Taiwan quake.)

READ: 4th Filipino reported injured in Taiwan quake: gov't

Mapalo did not mention when the loan application would open. She said the board has yet to approve requirements for the loan, which would likely be similar to previous SSS offerings.

"It will be the usual na offer na calamity loan assistance. Usually ang nire-require namin dyan meron sila dapat 36 monthly contribution and at least merong fixed na contribution within the 12 month period na from the time na nag-apply," she said.

(We usually require that they have at least 36 months of contribution and at least a fixed contribution within the 12 month period from the time they applied.)

READ: Taiwan quake death toll rises to 10 dead, 38 missing

Applicants must be working in the areas in Taiwan affected by the earthquake.

The amount of loan would also be similar to the ones they offered previously, Mapalo said.

"Usual offer ng SSS sa calamity loan assistance, maximum of P20,000, but yun nga po it's still pending approval ng board, so hindi ko pa masasabi definitely kung magkano talaga ang ma-i-offer sa mga OFW member," Mapalo said.

"Our usual interest rate for our calamity is 10 percent [per annum] kaya may probability na yun din po ang i-apply namin," she added.

(The usually SSS calamity loan assistance is up to P20,000. But since board approval is still pending, I cannot say for certain how much could be offered to OFW members.)

The filing of the loan application would be online, and SSS members can expect the approval and disbursement of the loan in a week or less.

"Importante meron na silang enrolled disbursement account kasi dun idi-disburse yung kanilang loan," Mapalo said.

(It's important that they have an enrolled disbursement account because their loan would go there.)

Ten people have been reported killed while over a thousand were injured by the powerful quake that hit Taiwan earlier this week.

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