PH prepares to rebuild after Haiyan

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines  – It is now two weeks after typhoon Yolanda, international name Haiyan, hit the Philippines and destroyed whole cities in Eastern Visayas. For survivors, the next steps are rehabilitation and rebuilding. How much will it cost and how long will it take for the people of the Visayas to get their lives back?

Paterno Esmaquel reports.

Billions in crops and buildings destroyed. Billions more needed for the biggest reconstruction effort since World War II. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas says the President formed a special team to oversee rebuilding. He says it’s too early to tell the amount they need.

MAR ROXAS, INTERIOR SECRETARY: I expect it is going to be very large, and it’s going to take very long, because the damage, the destruction, is extensive, and the people will need to be sustained with their food and shelter while they are rebuilding their lives and beginning to plant.

The government faces a massive challenge. Yolanda damaged at least 12.65 billion pesos in crops and infrastructure, and affected over 10 million people, including 536,000 left homeless

This problem comes as the government faces public outrage.Critics protest the pork barrel – discretionary funds that became a source of corruption.

MAR ROXAS, INTERIOR SECRETARY: We know that the monies are available. We don’t know how or what or from which departments, but the money is there. If there is in fact a need for a supplementary budget, they will make the proper appropriate filing.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman says international groups can also help in funding.

DINKY SOLIMAN, SOCIAL WELFARE SECRETARY: In addition to what the government can actually provide, there are many other people, other organizations, especially bilateral, who are very interested.

From counting thousands of bodies, they now have to come up with the money to rebuild. They also need to put together the right blueprint so a city rises once again.
Paterno Esmaquel II, Rappler, Tacloban City – Rappler.com

The Long Road to Tacloban 
Rappler has set up a base in Tacloban to gather stories in Leyte and Eastern Samar, especially in the towns and villages that sufficient aid and most media have yet to reach. 

On November 14, they set out for Tacloban – by land – from our headquarters in Pasig City. The 36-hour trip took them through the provinces most heavily devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Here, they shared with us what they saw along the way, capturing images of destruction and despair, narrating stories of anguish, hope, and heroism. 

Their journey continues. They are finding people. The stories keep coming. Their and these people’s voices are here.

Follow their story here

Help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan). Visit Rappler’s list ofongoing relief operations in your area. Tell us about your relief and recovery initiatives, emailmove.ph@rappler.com or tweet us @moveph 

Visit rappler.com/typhoon-yolanda for the latest updates on Typhoon Yolanda.

Want to help? Read these:

• #ReliefPH: Victims of Typhoon Yolanda need your help
• #YolandaPH (Haiyan): Filipinos worldwide heed call to action
• Why Paypal may lock Haiyan relief accounts
• Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan): Aid, donations for international community

Other ways to help out:

• #YolandaPH Person Finder: Looking for friends, relative in affected areas?
• Help map cell signals in areas affected by Yolanda