Philippines: UN seeks debt relief to support typhoon recovery

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New York, Apr 8 : Voicing concern that the Philippines' post-typhoon reconstruction and recovery efforts could be undermined by its heavy debt load, a United Nations independent human rights expert on Monday issued a strong call on international creditors to cancel the country's debt and to provide unrestricted grant aid instead of new loans.

"Grant aid, not new loans, is needed to overcome the impact of the tropical cyclone which struck the country five months ago," said Cephas Lumina, the independent expert tasked with monitoring the effects of foreign debt on the enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights.

Of great concern, he stressed, was that reconstruction, development and realization of economic and social rights will be undermined if the high debt stock of the country is further enlarged to unsustainable levels.

Noting the international support provided the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, Lumina underscored that more than USD 22 million leaves the country daily to pay off overseas debts.

"While around USD 3 billion has left the country to serve its debt since the typhoon struck, the country has received so far only USD 417 million for its strategic response plan by international and private donors, about half of the total relief requested," the expert stressed.

Although over one fourth of its population lives in poverty, the Philippines is classified as a lower Middle Income Country and therefore has been disqualified from international debt relief programmes. This year alone, the Philippines is supposed to pay USD 8.8 billion debt.

To date, the World Bank has provided a USD 500 million support loan and a USD 480 million loan for rebuilding infrastructure and social services while the Asian Development Bank has offered nearly USD 900 million of assistance. However, most of this was in the form of new loans and only USD 23 million was given in grants.

In theory, loans for reconstruction cannot generate returns to allow the debt to be paid. For his part, Lumina highlighted the importance of cancelling debt by international lenders to ensure that the Country can recover.

"The disaster should rather serve as an opportunity for lenders to acknowledge that odious debts emanating from the rule under Ferdinand Marcos should be cancelled," Lumina underscored.

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Philippines: UN seeks debt relief to support typhoon recovery