Philippines partners with Korean fund for disaster prevention project in Pampanga

Philippine government has approved the partnership between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for a flood control project of the $85 million Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Pampanga.

With the approval, the DPWH now has the authority to enter into multiple-year contracts for the flood mitigation project for more than a year, and is allowed to partner with the EDCF to fulfill the requirements of the project for 5 years.

DBM said $1.6 million has already been released for the project for 2013 and 2014.

"The Philippines is a very typhoon-prone country and we'll need a good deal of support in implementing our disaster risk reduction initiatives. We're very grateful to the Korean government and its aid arm for joining us in our bid to build durable and disaster-proof infrastructure to protect communities in low-lying areas, specifically those in Pampanga,” said Budget Sec. Butch Abad.

DBM will provide $19 million in total, while EDCF will contribute $65 million for the duration of the 5-year project.

Aside from the project's flood control component, the project also aims to rehabilitate and repair school buildings for the benefit of the schools in the area.