SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao -- It took the government four months to deliver money for the burial of their kin, but the families of those killed by typhoon “Frank" here in June remained thankful.

The families received P10,000 for each members they lost.

"At least the government was able to help," Jimmy Darat, who lost four members of his family during the typhoon, said after receiving checks for P40,000 here on Wednesday.

Rasmia Hadji Belon, who received P10,000, said the assistance was "better than nothing."

Armando Duque, director of the Office of Civil Defense in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said aside from providing burial assistance, the government also helped other victims defray their medical expenses.