Philippines Improves Rapid Response Capability to Assist Filipinos Hit by Natural Disaster through New World Bank Catastrophe Financing

US$500 M financing to support prompt response for emergency relief and post-disaster reconstruction

WASHINGTON DC — The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved today a contingent line of credit for the Philippines to support the country’s efforts to improve preparedness against natural disasters and reduce the vulnerability of Filipinos to the impact of these calamities.

Called the Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with Catastrophe Drawdown Option (CAT-DDO), this new US$500 million financing support provides the Philippines with immediate access to funding for emergency relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts following a major natural disaster.

The Philippines is among the most vulnerable countries in the world to natural disasters. On average, more than 1,000 lives are lost every year, with typhoons accounting for 74 percent of the fatalities, 62 percent of the total damages, and 70 percent of agricultural damages, reflecting their high annual frequency.

The CAT-DDO’s approval is in support of the country’s integrated framework for disaster risk reduction and management enshrined in Republic Act No. 10121 (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act) and the Strategic National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (SNAP) crafted in 2010.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said that when disaster strikes, the country is often confronted with the urgent need to provide emergency assistance to victims and to rebuild roads, hospitals, schools, irrigation systems, electric power and water supply, and other important social infrastructure.

“This financing support will help ensure that affected population, especially the poor who are the most vulnerable, receive adequate assistance as soon as possible after a disaster, and that important infrastructure facilities are restored a lot quicker, thus minimizing social and economic dislocation in affected communities,” said Secretary Purisima.

Drawdown from this new financing support will be triggered by a presidential declaration of a “state of calamity.” (Republic Act No. 10121 defines a “state of calamity” as “a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.”)

This operation gives the country flexibility to use the funds only if needed. The drawdown period is three years and renewable up to four times for a total of 15 years.

Secretary Purisima said that as a quick source of financing, CAT-DDO is particularly well-placed to provide bridge financing while other sources like bilateral aid and concessional funding are being mobilized following a major natural disaster.

“The CAT-DDO will help reduce the government’s fiscal vulnerability in the event of a catastrophic adverse natural event,” Secretary Purisima added.

In 2009, Tropical Storm Ondoy (Ketsana) and Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) hit Luzon, including Metro Manila, costing the Philippines’ economy around 2.7 percent of its GDP and increased the number of poor people by about 500,000.

In response, the Philippines enacted the DRRM Act on May 27, 2010 and adopted a Strategic National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (SNAP) shortly after, thus effectively institutionalizing a comprehensive and integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and management in the country.

Undersecretary Benito T. Ramos, Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), welcomed the CAT-DDO’s approval, saying that the new financing operation signifies the World Bank’s recognition of the government’s comprehensive efforts to strengthen the country’s institutional capacity for disaster risk management both at the national and local levels.

“A bridge financing like CAT-DDO empowers managers like us to focus our attention on providing immediate relief and emergency services to disaster victims. It is a complement to the resources of the government to ensure funding availability during disasters,” said Undersecretary Ramos.

Undersecretary Ramos said the government is mainstreaming better disaster risk reduction and management in a number of sectors including health, transport, and social development.

“The Philippines has drawn up a comprehensive framework for managing impact of natural disasters and has incorporated it in the country’s overall development strategy,” World Bank Country Director Bert Hofman. “The World Bank is pleased to support this framework that is so crucial for achieving inclusive or broad-based growth.”

“The poor are among the most at risk from natural disasters. Reducing their vulnerability to disasters forms an important part of our assistance strategy for the country,” Mr. Hofman added.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), between 1990 and 2008, the country incurred average annual direct damages to agriculture, infrastructure, and the private sector of around Php28 billion, which is equivalent to about 0.7 percent of GDP. Damage to agriculture alone averaged Php12.4 billion annually.

For more information on the World Bank’s projects and programs in the Philippines, visit www.worldbank.org.ph