AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday that the reconstruction efforts for the areas damaged by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) could be completed by 2017 or earlier.
“We know that we cannot allow ourselves to be trapped in a vicious cycle of destruction and reconstruction. We know that it is more efficient to prioritize resilience now, rather than to keep rebuilding. This is why we are going to build back better,” he said in his speech during the briefing for Philippines development partners on Reconstruction assistance on Yolanda.
Aquino said that recovery and reconstruction “will be done in cumulative, overlapping phases to meet immediate needs, and to make the transition not just towards full normalcy, but to an improved state.”
He said that he hopes the reconstruction will be completed by 2017 or earlier.
The briefing was attended by foreign delegates from countries that have pledged to provide assistance to the rehabilitation efforts of the Philippine government
Aquino expressed hope that because of the help of foreign nations, the target will be met.
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