Phl receives over $4 B aid for Yolanda-struck areas

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippines has received P199.48 billion (about $4.44 billion) from international sources for the rehabilitation of areas struck by typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) a year ago, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the amount came in the form of loans, financial grants and donations.

Citing the consolidated date of the Department of Finance, he said the fund that the country received was used for "rescue and relief and reconstruction and rehabilitation phases" of the areas affected by Haiyan.

"The amount represents all aid that were coursed through the DOF and accounted for by the Bureau of Treasury," Coloma said.

He said that of the total amount, 85 percent or P169.48 billion (about $3.78 billion) was coursed through various government agencies, while the remaining P30 billion (about $668.15 million) was channeled through non- government organizations.

According to the Finance Department, about 53 percent of the 199.48 billion pesos or P106.41 billion (about $2.37 billion) has already been disbursed for the various programs, activities and projects within the Haiyan corridor, he said.

In terms of sources, about 63 percent or P126.18 billion (about $2.81 billion) consisted of foreign loans extended by multilateral lending institutions and development agencies, among them the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the French Development Agency.

The remaining P73.3 billion (about $1.63 billion) was made up of donations and grants from other countries, including Australia, China, Germany, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, Coloma said.