World Bank To Provide Assistance To Philippines In Rebuilding Marawi City
Citing its long-standing partnership with the Philippines,
World Bank chief executive officer Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the
institution’s commitment to work with the Philippine government in helping
conflict-torn Marawi City rise from devastation, along with scaling up support
for peace-building efforts in Mindanao.
In a meeting with Philippine officials led by Finance
Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Georgieva said the World Bank, with its
capability and expertise in rebuilding conflict-hit areas, can provide
technical aid and other forms of assistance to the Philippines to help rebuild
Marawi City.
Georgieva also welcomed Secretary Dominguez’s plan to tap
domestic resources to raise funds for Marawi’s reconstruction, which she said,
was “the right thing to do” and underscored the importance of “inclusive
development” as a key aspect of the rehabilitation strategy for the city.
“We can only express all of our sympathy for what has been
going on in Marawi,” said Georgieva during the meeting held at the World Bank
Office.
“As an institution that has committed to peaceful
development and dealing with conflict situations, we would be honored in
helping in terms of [re]building and engaging in any possible way what we can
do in this situation.”
Besides Secretary Dominguez, also at the meeting were
Secretaries Alan Peter Cayetano of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and
Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Mara Warwick, the World Bank country director for Brunei,
Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, was also at the meeting.
On behalf of the Philippines, Secretary Dominguez thanked
the World Bank “for its generous assistance to the Philippines through the
years” and welcomed its offer of aid for Marawi City.
Secretary Dominguez emphasized the need for World Bank’s
technical advice and expertise in reconstructing the entire city of Marawi as
the Philippines has very limited experience in handling a rehabilitation
program of this magnitude.
“The rehabilitation of Marawi is a complicated situation,”
said Secretary Dominguez, noting as an example the issue involving land titling
for its returning residents, many of whom are informal settlers living in
multi-storey structures.
“The World Bank has the experience in reconstruction. We
want to rebuild the entire city and keep a part of it as a memorial,” Secretary
Dominguez said.
Secretary Dominguez informed Georgieva that with the
approval of President Rodrigo Duterte, the government has opted to raise funds
“domestically” for Marawi’s recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction program
by, among others, issuing bonds.
“I would like to introduce the concept that the rest of the
country is involved in Marawi, that we have to contribute ourselves to the
reconstruction and we are going with the bond issue,” said Secretary Dominguez.
Georgieva said that the Philippine government and the World
Bank “need to work together” even as she cited the strength and resilience of
Filipinos in dealing with conflict and tragedies.
In a statement issued last August 31, the World Bank said it
will “scale up support for peace-building and development in Mindanao as part
of the midterm adjustment of its country partnership strategy.”
“This scaled-up program for the entire Mindanao will focus
on supporting the government’s program to raise agricultural productivity and
improve connectivity from farm to market; boost education, skills, and
employability of the youth; and help build resilient communities,” its
statement said.
In the meeting, Secretary Dominguez and Secretary Pernia
also provided Georgieva an update on the status of the ongoing infrastructure
projects in the Philippines that are being implemented with the assistance of
the World Bank, such as the Metro Manila Flood Management Project, which is
being co-funded with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the
Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System.
Secretary Cayetano mentioned that several countries have
already provided assistance and committed to help Marawi, but a clear direction
and detailed rehabilitation plan is needed to organize such efforts.
Watch the video report below via PTV:
Source: DOF
World Bank To Provide Assistance To Philippines In Rebuilding Marawi City
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October 23, 2017
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