A rehabilitation plan for areas affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas is now being drawn up, the Philippines National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.
In a briefing, NEDA officials reiterated pronouncements that the natural disaster will have a minimal impact on economic growth in the first quarter of the year unless a more destructive eruption occurs.
We are starting to lay down the major components of the rehab. We are gathering agencies to do what is called a post-disaster needs survey, said NEDA Undersecretary for regional development Adoracion Navarro.
But before that, we would like to see the information that the Office of Civil Defense has. They already did an aerial survey. We would like to know the data and incorporate this in the rehab plan.
Batangas was immediately placed under a state of calamity a day after the eruption of Taal Volcano. Markets in the capital were shut down and thousands were immediately evacuated from devastated areas.
Right now, looking at possible measures to fast-track the rehab like looking at availability of resources, Navarro said.