DSE detects four problematic disaster relief applications

The day after Typhoon Hato

Macao Economic Services (DSE) has found four applications for the special financial supports offered by the Macau government to the SMEs in the wake of Typhoon Hato contained incorrect information.

DSE Director Tai Kin Ip reported this situation yesterday. According to Tai, DSE seized evidence regarding these four cases and will report them to the prosecution authority.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Hato, the government has established two special disaster relief programs to help local SMEs. Tai revealed that DSE has already granted two billion patacas through the two programs.

DSE reached an agreement with the Macau Association of Banks; the agreement was that banks would help the SMEs to provide their financial records concerning losses incurred because of the typhoon.

DSE received more than 21,000 applications for special financial support. Tai said that this number is equal to the total number of applications for SME supportive programs which DSE has granted during the last 20 years. 

Currently, DSE has already approved 17,000 applications out of the 21,000. The bureau intends to run through the remaining 4,000 by the end of the year.

To prevent people from abusing the special financial support, DSE has been deploying human resources to different districts to inspect the physical damage caused by the typhoon.

Tai emphasized that only the businesses which were damaged by the typhoon are eligible to apply for these programs.