The Philippine Government has announced a strategic plan for therehabilitation in central Philippines ravaged early November bysuper typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda.

The plan will focus on housing, infrastructure, agriculture, industry,the delivery of health and education during the process ofreconstruction, said President Benigno Aquino at a December 18 ceremonyto launch the strategic plan of the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda(RAY).

He called for international assistanceas well as private sectors’ commitments to help the country rebuildinfrastructure so that it is able to withstand the onslaught ofdisasters and negative impacts by climate change.

According to the Philippine National Economic and DevelopmentAuthority (NEDA), the country needs 361 billion pesos (8.17 billion USD)for the recovery and reconstruction of typhoon-hit areas until 2017.

The same day, the Philippine government asked theUS to temporarily suspend the collection of duties for goods producedfrom typhoon-affected areas, including garments.

Typhoon Haiyan made landfall on central Philippines on November 8,killing nearly 6,000 people and leaving 2,000 others missing. Totaldamage caused by the storm was estimated at 12.9 billion USD.-VNA