ADB, World Bank eye technical assistance grants for Marawi rehab

Multilateral lenders the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank are looking into technical assistance grants for the rehabilitation of Marawi City once fighting ends on top of a possible emergency loan to be extended by the latter, the country’s chief economist said.

“The World Bank has expressed interest in helping—it’s a technical assistance grant for rapid damage assessment and needs analysis over the short, medium and long term,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia told reporters.

Pernia, who heads state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority, added that the Washington-based lender was also “looking at an emergency reconstruction and development loan, an additional emergency loan,” which he said can be prepared in four to five months’ time.

Since the planned technical assistance, which would identify what are needed for Marawi’s reconstruction and rehabilitation, will be in the form of a grant, it may be secured earlier than the proposed loan.

For the part of the ADB, the Manila-based multilateral lender had “also expressed interest in formulating a technical assistance project for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi,” Pernia said.

“I guess the ADB and the World Bank will be collaborating. I don’t think they should be competing,” the Neda chief said.

Pernia said the Philippine government is open to accepting the two lenders’ proposals.

In Marawi, clashes between government forces and ISIS supporters have yet to end even as the entire island of Mindanao was placed under martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte last May 23.

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