MANILA – With funds from various sources flowing to the Philippines for post-“Ondoy” and “Pepeng” (international typhoon code names Ketsana and Parma) reconstruction needs, the government and development agencies launched on Wednesday an effort to map out damages and losses, and match these with available funds.

In a statement on Thursday, the World Bank said it is coordinating the post-disaster damage and needs assessment (PDNA) effort, a global methodology for assessing damage, loss, and needs after a disaster. The Philippine government, United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and the European Commission are also involved.

“The PDNA will serve as a framework by which the country could mobilize greater support from the broader global community for recovery and reconstruction,” World Bank Country Director Bert Hofman said in the statement.

“The huge tasks at hand both in terms of short-term recovery and long-term reconstruction demand no less than a concerted response from all sectors of society and the global community. I am glad that government agencies and the development partners quickly organized themselves for this very important undertaking,” Finance Secretary Margarito Teves added.

The results of the PDNA will be completed on or before the last week of November.

Teves acknowledged that the PDNA process will help the government identify needs, policy gaps, and resources, as well as appropriate programs and interventions to better prepare the country for future calamities.

Various efforts

Reconstruction and recovery efforts have been cropping up after the back-to-back typhoons savaged Metro Manila, the country’s political and economic center, and key areas in the Luzon island that are major producers of agricultural products.

To address the massive relief, recovery, and reconstruction works, various groups and efforts have cropped up.

How will all these efforts avoid overlap?

Teves requested World Bank Managing Director Juan Josè Daboub and World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Jim Adams to take the lead in coordinating and implementing the PDNA process at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Istanbul, Turkey in early October

World Bank said the PDNA process will not overlap with the United Nations system’ Flash Appeal 2009 since the assessment will look beyond critical humanitarian assistance.

The PDNA’s coverage is comprehensive. It will cover post-disaster issues across social and government sectors, including the following:
- social sectors (education, health, urban housing, informal settlements, and social protection)
- productive sectors (agriculture and irrigation, fisheries, and enterprises)
- infrastructure (water supply and sanitation, flood control and dam management, transport, energy, communications)
- economic impacts (macro and fiscal impacts, livelihoods and poverty),
- social impacts on vulnerable groups
- disaster preparedness and mitigation

The PDNA results will also serve as inputs for the Special National Public-Private Reconstruction Commission, which President Arroyo created recently and where Teves is co-chair with businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

The Reconstruction Commission was tasked to raise funds for recovery and reconstruction as well as serve as clearinghouse for international assistance.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s Business Nightly, Teves said the results of the needs assessment report will be used when the Reconstruction Commission conducts a pledging session with potential donors. (View: Reconstruction funds to match assessed needs)