THE Philippine government, the World Bank and other development partners, including the United Nations, Asian Development Bank and the European Commission, have officially launched the postdisaster needs assessment (PDNA) that will 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 the social sectors (education, health, housing, social protection), the productive sectors (agriculture and irrigation, fisheries, enterprises), infrastructure (water supply and sanitation, flood control, transport, energy, communications); economic impacts (macro and fiscal impacts, livelihoods, poverty), social impacts on vulnerable groups, and disaster preparedness and mitigation. The assessment will also look at cross-sectoral issues including local government and public administration, environment, and financial impacts.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, who also cochairs 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.

“The huge tasks at hand both in terms of short-term recovery and long-term reconstruction demand no less than a concerted response from all sectors of society and the global community. I am glad that government agencies and the development partners quickly organized themselves for this very important undertaking,” said Teves.

At the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Istanbul, Turkey in early October,  Teves requested World Bank Managing Director Juan José Daboub and World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Jim Adams to take the lead in coordinating the implementation of the PDNA, in close cooperation with government agencies and other development partners.

In response, the World Bank and other development partners quickly organized a team of local and international experts to initiate the PDNA process. The team is currently working together with its counterparts from government agencies including the Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, National Disaster Coordinating Council, National Housing Authority, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, and the Department of Agrarian Reform as well as leagues of local government units and some groups from civil society.

“The PDNA will serve as a framework by which the country could mobilize greater support from the broader global community for recovery and reconstruction,” explained 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.”

Recently, President Arroyo created the Special National Public-Private Reconstruction Commission to raise resources for recovery and reconstruction as well as to serve as clearinghouse for international assistance.

The government envisions a public-private sector dialogue where the Reconstruction Commission could sit down with development partners like the World Bank, United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and the European Commission to discuss the needed assistance for typhoon victims and the required rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Teves said the results of the PDNA, which he expects to be completed on or before the last week of November, will be used as inputs in the public-private sector dialogue. “In this meeting, we will also draw up a framework for ensuring accountability and transparency in mobilizing resources and ensuring timely implementation of projects,” said Secretary Teves.

The PDNA uses a globally accepted methodology for assessing damage, loss and needs, and provides an effective instrument for mobilizing resources in response to calamities. It provides recommendations for short, medium, and long-term recovery and reconstruction needs of an affected country.

The methodology used was developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN-ECLA) in the 70s. Since then, it has been strengthened and customized for different areas of the world and is now considered the global standard in assessing the impact of disasters and calamities.