DHAKA: The Philippines will need nearly US$3 billion to rebuild parts of the country destroyed by the deadliest typhoon in its history.

The presidential palace said on Saturday, reports The Straits Times.

President Benigno Aquino told reporters in Tokyo late Friday that scores of towns and cities across the central islands that were devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan needed national government help to clean up debris and restore damaged infrastructure.

‘The task is really daunting is it not? That’s why we are saying it will take about 130 billion pesos to put everybody in at least a better situation than where they were,’ he said according to a transcript released by Malacanang palace.

Haiyan smashed across the central islands with peak winds of 315kmh on November 8, unleashing tsunami-like storm surges that killed thousands of people on the islands of Leyte and Samar.

BDST: 2057 HRS, DEC 14, 2013
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor