World Bank to help in Marawi rehab

MANILA, Philippines - The World Bank (WB) yesterday announced that it is beefing up its support for peace and development efforts in Mindanao, including the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi, as part of its country partnership strategy with the Philippines.

This follows the recent completion of the bank’s Performance and Learning Review report for the country.

The US-led multilateral development bank said the scaled-up program for the entire Mindanao would focus on supporting existing government programs for agricultural productivity, improving the connectivity of farm-to-market roads, educational attainment, skills and employability of the youth as well as building resilient communities.

“Mindanao accounts for 36 percent of all poverty in the Philippines and poverty is highest in areas affected by conflict. The World Bank Group fully supports the government’s focus on developing lagging regions, including Marawi and surrounding areas,” said Mara Warwick, WB country director for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

“The World Bank, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will coordinate financial assistance from the development partners for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi City. Also, the World Bank will provide technical assistance for the early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction planning for Marawi City as requested by government,” Warwick said.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has said both the ADB and WB offered to provide loans and technical assistance grants for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi. He did not disclose the size of the loans and grants.

Next year, the WB Group’s support for the Philippines could reach $660 million, including funding for the Metro Manila Flood Management Project, the first project planned for co-financing with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.