Will BSP change burnt bills after 95-year-old accidentally gets wallet in stove?

A 95-year-old grandmother in Nueva Ecija lost almost P15,000 after she accidentally burned her wallet while looking for something to use as fuel while cooking rice.

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “State of the Nation,” Honorata Gahis said she was not aware that her wallet was in the fire.

“Hindi ko alam pero nag-punta ako sa harap ng kalan… Hindi ko alam na andoon ‘yung wallet. Talagang wala na ‘yung wallet ko,” Gahis said.

(I don’t know but I went to the rice pot… I didn’t know my wallet was there. My wallet is really gone.)

Her granddaughter, Sara Gahis Deguzman, said they repeatedly told her to leave the cooking to them. However, she said Gahis loved to cook and to do household chores.

Hoping for help, Deguzman posted the incident on Facebook.

“Kami po ay nagbabakasakali lang po na maibalik kasi po ‘yung matanda, inaano rin po niya ‘yung pera niya. Iniisip-isip rin po niya ‘yung pera niya,” Deguzman said.

(We’re hoping that we could exchange the money because my grandmother keeps thinking about her money.)

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it considers threee things when replacing money such as size, signatures, and security thread.

“Dapat po ang natira sa nasunog ay 60%, more than 50%, more than kalahati,” Nenette Malabrigo, BSP Currency Issue and Integrity Office manager, said.

(There should be more at least 60% of the banknote left, more than 50%, more than half.)

Malabrigo said that just one of the two signatures on the banknote must not be destroyed. 

She vowed to coordinate with Gahis and her family to determine if the money can be replaced. She also advised people saving money at home to place it in the bank.

“Hanggat maari po ilagay na lang po natin sa bangko para mas protektado or mas safe at the same time lalago pa yung pera ng ating mga kababyan,” she said.

(As much as possible, let’s put it in the bank so it can be more protected and safer. At the same time, the money will also grow.) —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News