MANILA, Philippines ? Two reconstruction bodies formed in the aftermath of Tropical Storms ?Ondoy? and ?Pepeng? have identified four projects for immediate implementation while results of a post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) are pending.

Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves said in a statement that the Special National Public Reconstruction Commission and the private sector?s Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) listed the priority projects as the removal of water lilies that clog waterways, especially Laguna de Bay; putting up rainwater gauges for early warning; treatment of flood victims with leptospirosis; and repair of damaged schools and classroom fixtures.

Teves, who chairs the commission, said the projects would require coordination between and funding from both sectors, adding that the two bodies were in talks with the agencies and private sector entities concerned.

?For the clearing of the water lilies, the PDRF plans to remove and barge them to farm and compost sites of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in Laguna,? he said.

He said the PDRF intended to work with the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, as well as the local government units concerned, regarding the aquatic plants.

The PDRF was consulting with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and National Disaster Coordinating Council on the installation of the rain gauges.

PDRF chair Manuel V. Pangilinan said the group wanted ?some quick and early wins? and the rain gauges were intended to be installed at the cell sites of Smart Communications Inc., which would power the gauges and transmit the data continuously to PAGASA.

Pangilinan is chair of Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. (PLDT), the parent firm of Smart.

The businessman said the PBSP was committed to working with the Department of Health in the treatment of leptospirosis patients and with the Department of Education in the rehabilitation and repair of schools and classrooms.

Pangilinan said the PDRF had been in continuous meetings with scientists and environmental experts, and was set to move on a number of immediate projects while awaiting a reconstruction master plan that the commission and the foundation were currently drafting.

Teves said the preliminary report on the PDNA?being conducted by government agencies with help from international donors?was expected by early November.

He said the report would be available in time for the informal meeting between the commission and the PDRF, and with multilateral donors that would be tapped for rebuilding funds.

Last week, Teves said that while there was no definite figure on how much was needed for the reconstruction effort, the latest figure on the damage from the twin storms was estimated at P30 billion.