Seoul officials on Friday announced plans to send an additional $20 million in aid to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines.

The assistance will come in the form of Official Development Assistance funds, to be dealt out across three years beginning in 2014.

Specific schemes for the money’s use have not been set, but the Korea International Cooperation Agency, which handles aid programs to foreign countries, will use it for reconstruction work in the Southeast Asian nation. According to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry, rebuilding public infrastructure and containing contagious diseases will be priorities.

Korea already has a $10 million aid package planned for use in the Philippines next year, but the damages caused by Typhoon Haiyan have compelled Korea to contribute more, said a Foreign Ministry official.

International humanitarian aid to the archipelago nation has been steadily forthcoming, with Korea donating $5 million in emergency aid earlier this month and sending a contingent of medical and rescue staff on Nov. 15. Korea will also dispatch a battalion-size military unit to the Philippines for conducting disaster-relief operations as soon as the National Assembly and the Cabinet officially approve the deployment.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)