World Bank OKs $500M loan to boost Philippines disaster, COVID-19 response capacity

The World Bank on Friday approved a $500-million policy loan to boost the Philippines’ capacity to respond and recover from disasters such as the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

In a statement, the World Bank said its board of executive directors approved $500 million “in financing to help strengthen the Philippine government’s capacity to address disaster risks, respond to and recover from natural disasters.”

“The financing will also support urgent needs created by the COVID-19 crisis,” the multilateral lender said.

The $500-million financing is the “Third Risk Management Development Policy Loan” and forms part of the World Bank’s long-standing support to the Philippines’ broader policy reform efforts to boost its resilience and capability to prepare for and recover from disasters.

“This loan follows two previous Risk Management Development Policy Loans in 2012 and 2015,” it said.

The government is currently in the process of strengthening the Philippines’ institutional framework for disaster risk management through the creation of a new department for Disaster Risk and Resilience, according to the World Bank.

“The World Bank is committed to supporting efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ capacity to prepare for and respond to natural disasters as well as health and economic shocks like COVID-19,” Achim Fock, World Bank acting country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, said.

“Natural disasters and pandemics disproportionately hurt poor families and communities,” Fock said.

“Enhancing risk management and the capacity to address these challenges can help ensure that the Philippines can sustain progress in poverty reduction,” he said.

The World Bank noted that the “Third Risk Management Development Policy Loan” will support key policy reforms being undertaken by the government in the area of disaster risk management, including:

• Adoption and implementation of a unified disaster rehabilitation and recovery planning framework by the national government and local government units;
• Promotion of integrated hazard and risk analysis in physical planning, and in support of policy development;
• Development of multi-year investment plans for seismic risk reduction and retrofitting of important government buildings; and
• Implementation of an emergency cash transfer program during shocks.

The Philippines is one of the most hazard-prone countries in the world, the lender said.

Across its 7,641 islands, the Philippines is exposed to multiple natural hazards including typhoons, earthquakes, flooding, storm surges, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and landslides.

Close to 74% of the population is vulnerable to natural disasters and 60% of total land area is exposed to multiple hazards.

“In addition to these natural hazards, the country is now facing the impacts of the global outbreak of COVID-19,” the World Bank stressed.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a public health emergency and a state of calamity, mandating full cooperation among all government agencies and local governments to address the COVID-19 threat.

As of Thursday, April 9, 2020, COVID-19 death toll in the Philippines was at 203, with the confirmed number of cases at 4,076.

The World Bank expressed its solidarity with the people of the Philippines and is working closely with the authorities to support action to address the unfolding COVID-19 emergency through financial support and just-in time technical assistance.

The World Bank Group said it is rolling out a $14 billion fast-track package to strengthen the COVID-19 response in developing countries and shorten the time to recovery.

The immediate response includes financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to help countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

As countries need broader support, the World Bank Group said it will deploy up to $160 billion over 15 months to protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery. --KBK, GMA News