The government has launched the post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) in cooperation with the World Bank, the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and the European Commission to determine the extent of damage and loss caused by the recent spate of disasters that hit the country as well as identify measures for recovery and reconstruction.

The PDNA will cover various sectors including education, health, housing, and social protection, agriculture and irrigation, fisheries, and enterprises, water supply and sanitation, flood control, transport, energy, communications; economic impacts such as macro and fiscal impacts, livelihoods and poverty, social impacts on vulnerable groups, and disaster preparedness and mitigation.

"The PDNA will serve as a framework by which the country could mobilize greater support from the broader global community for recovery and reconstruction," said World Bank Country Director Bert Hofman.

"The World Bank is honored to coordinate this effort as it is extremely important for the country to recover as soon as possible and alleviate the conditions of the poor who were the most affected by these calamities."

The assessment will also look at cross-sectoral issues including local government and public administration, environment, and financial impacts.

Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves, who also co-chairs the newly-formed Public-Private Reconstruction Commission, welcomed the kick off of the PDNA process stressing that the assessment will help the government identify needs, policy gaps, and resources, as well as appropriate programs and interventions to better prepare the country for future calamities.