By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE U.S. Small Business Administration has extended the deadline for Super Typhoon Sinlaku survivors to apply for federal disaster loans, granting a 60-day grace period that moves the physical-damage application deadline to Aug. 21, according to SBA Public Affairs Specialist Raenada Mason of the Field Operations Center–West.
The extension applies to renters, homeowners, businesses and private nonprofits that suffered physical damage from the April 11–18 typhoon. Mason said the grace period was authorized under the President’s major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, citing the scale and severity of the storm’s impact.
“This grace period ends on Aug. 21 — submit your application before it’s too late,” Mason said, urging residents and business owners who have not yet applied to take advantage of the additional time.
The SBA continues to offer low-interest disaster loans to help repair or replace damaged real estate, personal property, equipment, inventory and other assets. Mason said outreach teams remain active across Saipan, Tinian and Rota to ensure survivors understand their eligibility and required documentation.
While the physical-damage deadline has been extended, the deadline to return Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications remains Jan. 25, 2027.
Applicants may apply online and access additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. To locate an in-person assistance center, visit appointment.sba.gov/schedule/; no appointment is required.
Residents and business owners with questions may call the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected]/. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability may dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
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.
