Cash grants for disaster victims made easier

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) is now a trusted partner of the international non-profit organization Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (Oxfam) in the Philippines for the pay-out delivery of cash grants to Oxfam beneficiaries in disaster-hit areas using their Visa Prepaid Card, the innovative electronic payment solutions for quick, secure and transparent aid disbursement.

Assistant Postmaster General for Marketing Luis Carlos said “PHLPost is prepared to facilitate the distribution of this innovative payments solution for a more secure, convenient, cost effective and transparent humanitarian assistance to affected communities. We remain committed to helping them overcome financial challenges”.

PHLPost, together with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), UnionBank, Visa, MetroBank, MLhuiller, i2c and other private organizations have teamed up with Oxfam for the Electronic Prepaid Solutions (EPS) project, to provide a simple and efficient way of delivering financial assistance while reducing the security risk for organizations in responding to large number of affected communities.

EPS also promotes financial inclusion in the disadvantaged sector as it empowers the affected families in their financial decisions.

PHLPost, with its vast network of postal stations in the far flung areas, especially those stricken by the recent calamities can now payout Oxfam’s cash assistance to the beneficiaries without the hassle of traveling in other places with bank and ATMs.

Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries. The non-profit organization helps rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes.

Through the EPS project, a beneficiary identified by Oxfam is issued an EPS card, which is credited with a fixed amount that can be withdrawn from bank automated teller machines (ATMs), to PHLPost on and off site centers and partner remittance centers.

The Oxfam Visa Card can also be used for over-the-counter purchases at local merchants and for purchases through a mobile store set-up 20 kilometers from the city.

In 2013, along with other partner agencies, PHLPost successfully delivered cash grants to Oxfam beneficiaries affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Leyte and Eastern Samar. Since December 2014, about 2,700 prepaid cards have been issued, with a total of $188,023 financial assistance transferred to beneficiaries.