The Philippine government has said the country needs 361 billion pesos(8.17 billion USD) for rehabilitation and reconstruction of areasdevastated by super typhoon Haiyan, which caused damages amounting tonearly 13 billion USD.

Presenting thereconstruction assistance plan before donors and development partners,President Benigno Aquino III said the government will give priority topublic infrastructure, shelter and resettlement, the resumption ofeducation and health services, and agriculture and industry.

The building of shelter and resettlement alone will cost an estimated 183.3 billion pesos (4.15 billion USD).

Meanwhile, Philippine Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ArsenioBalisacan said the government has already allocated 34 billion pesos(769 million USD) for "critical immediate actions" and another 100billion pesos (2.26 billion USD) will be budgeted for reconstruction in2014.

According to the National Economic andDevelopment Authority (NEDA) of Philippines, the total damage andloss from Haiyan was at 571.1 billion pesos (12.9 billion USD).

It said the damage may reduce the country's economic growth rate by0.3 percentage point in 2013 and by another 0.3 percentage point in2014.

President Aquino III has also called forassistance from the international community as well as private sectornot only in reconstructing typhoon-hit areas but also enhancing theselocalities’ capacity to respond to natural disasters and climate changeimpacts.-VNA