'Yolanda rehab, recovery will take 3-4 years'
MANILA, Philippines - It will take about three to four years to implement the government's plan to rebuild and rehabilitate the areas affected by typhoon Yolanda, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said on Thursday.
"We are looking at three to four years of intensive implementation of reconstruction," said Balisacan, who is heading the interagency effort Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan.
Balisacan, who is also the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority said the typhoon, which killed about 5,500 and cost P24.5 billion in damage to the economy, may affect the fourth quarter economic growth by as much as .3 to .8 percent.
The Cabinet is set to meet President Benigno Aquino III on Friday to add more details to the plan, which Balisacan said is expected to be finished within the month.
"As of now we are done with the critical and immediate action parts," Balisacan said.
He said the government will help the fishermen and rebuild schools and facilities in the affected communities, among others.
"Highest in the priority are those who could no longer move back to the hazard zones," he added.
Balisacan said building permanent settlements for the displaced typhoon survivors would require more time since local government units in the areas affected have yet to update their land use plan and geohazard maps.
He said the government is also talking to the private sector to help in revitalizing the economic activity in the affected areas.
"At the end of the day they are the ones who provide employment and economic opportunities," he said.
He added that the government will also conduct fieldwork to check the affected infrastructure and determine whether or not they need to be repaired or replaced with a new one.
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