By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
LOAN approvals from the U.S. Small Business Administration for Typhoon Sinlaku survivors have climbed to $9 million, with the vast majority of assistance continuing to go to homeowners and renters, according to the latest update from the agency.
As of June 4, the SBA had received 839 full applications under disaster declaration MP-21550. Of those, 688 were from homeowners, 138 from businesses, and 13 for Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Approved loan amounts now total $9.0 million, including:
Home loans: $8.8 million
Business loans: $81,800
Economic Injury Disaster Loans: $85,200
SBA Public Affairs Specialist Raenada Mason said the agency continues to see strong demand from households, while business participation remains comparatively low. She said staff are working to expand outreach and make in-person assistance more accessible.
In addition to the Business Recovery Center at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the Survivor Recovery Center in Susupe, the SBA is now operating a third location at the Business One Stop Permitting Center on Capital Hill. Mason said the center’s hours have been adjusted to better serve the public.
The Capital Hill site now opens at 8 a.m., moved up from its previous 8:30 a.m. start time. It continues to operate Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mason said the expanded hours are intended to help businesses and nonprofits that may be juggling recovery needs with work schedules, transportation challenges, or documentation issues.
Applicants may still apply online at sba.gov/disaster or contact the SBA’s customer service line at 1-800-659-2955 for assistance.
The deadline to apply for physical damage loans remains June 22, while the deadline for economic injury loans is Jan. 25, 2027.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
