As more bodies have been recovered in typhoon affected areas in central Philippines, the number of death toll rose to 5,598, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday morning.

Philippine fatality from typhoon Haiyan approaching 4,000

Photo: AP

Among the 38 additional fatalities, 15 were found from Tacloban city, 23 from Capiz province, both were worst-hit areas, NDRRCM said.

The people who were injured at the height of typhoon Haiyan, local name Yolanda, stood at 26,136.

The number of missing increased to 1,759.

The cost of damages to agriculture and infrastructures totalled 27.8 billion pesos (637 million U.S. dollars).

Philippine gov't sets aside 887.46 mln USD to reconstruct typhoon-devastated areas

The Philippine government said Thursday it is earmarking 38.8 billion pesos (887.46 million U.S. dollars) for the initial phase of the reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas in central Philippines destroyed by typhoon Haiyan, locally named "Yolanda."

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a news briefing that 80 percent of the amount will be used for reconstructing damaged homes and the repair of classrooms, hospitals, public markets and government offices.

Coloma said part of the amount will be set aside to provide livelihood assistance to farmers and fishermen who were severely affected by the typhoon.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III will convene another Cabinet meeting on Friday to resume discussions on the rehabilitation and reconstruction plans for typhoon-hit areas.

Aquino met members of his Cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the "Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan." He, however, withheld his formal approval for it pending the "specific details" he requested.

Coloma said the meeting on Friday would also focus on reconstruction plans for Bohol, which was struck by a magnitude 7. 2 earthquake in October, and Zamboanga City in southern Philippines where the military and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faced off in September.

Source: Xinhuanet