MANILA — The Philippine government launched an $8.17 billion plan on Wednesday to rebuild the lives of millions battered by Super Typhoon Haiyan. President Benigno Aquino appealed for international assistance and private sector pledges to help his government rehabilitate hundreds of devastated communities and increase their resilience to natural disasters as well as the adverse impacts of climate change. “The task immediately before us lies in ensuring that the communities that rise again do so stronger, better and more resilient than before,” he told foreign diplomats and aid officials in a speech at the launch of the initiative. “Every dollar of funding assistance will be used in as efficient and as lasting a manner as possible,” he pledged. US Secretary of State John Kerry visited the typhoon-devastated central city of Tacloban on Wednesday, expressing shock at what he called “stunning” devastation. During this visit Kerry announced that the United States will provide an additional $25 million in humanitarian aid, raising to $86 million its assistance to its major ally. — Agencies
