Will BSP replace burnt P300K cash of Taguig fire victim?

A fire victim in Taguig City lost at least P300,000 in cash as flames engulfed their home on Tuesday.

Mark Joseph Pede said he borrowed the money from his uncle to supposedly buy a jeepney for his livelihood.

“Simula po kahapon, di pa po ako nakakatulog hanggang ngayon kasi nagsi-sink in pa rin sa utak ko yung pera na ganun kalaki po na bigla na lang mawawala sa isang iglap na para sana pantulong sa pamilya ko,” Pede said in Oscar Oida’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.

(I haven’t slept since yesterday. I'm still in shock at how such a huge sum of money that could have been utilized to support my family instead just vanished.)

The fire victim was referred to the bank for cash replacement.

“Meron pong nagsasabi sa akin na puwede raw po palitan ng bangko kasi aksidente naman po nangyari. Wala naman po may kagustuhan na masunog yung pera,” said Pede.

(Someone told me the bank may still replace them because they were damaged accidentally. Nobody wanted the money to go up in flames.)

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, mutilated cash may still be replaced as long as its condition is well within the standards on size, signature, and security thread.

The mutilated cash should still be at least 60% in size, and the signature of the BSP Governor or President should still be visible and still have the security thread.

Pede went to a bank to inquire.

“Kukunin ko muna po ng requirements tapos rerekta na po sa kanila. Ang sabi po ng manager valid ID, tapos certificate na katunayan na nasunugan po kami... Wala sinabi kasi di pa raw nila alam. Malay natin sa awa ng Diyos baka may pagasa,” he said.

(They told me to bring the requirements, such as a valid ID, and a certificate validating we are fire victims. They did not give me an assurance, but maybe there is still hope.)

The report said only the BSP could decide whether to allow the cash replacement.

''Sana mapalitan pa para di na kami mahirapan kahit papano mabawas bawasan yung problema namin,'' Pede said.

(I hope they can be replaced, since this will ease our problems.) — Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA Integrated News