TOKYO: The Japanese government plans to spend 138.9 billion yen from reserve funds under its fiscal 2024 budget on relief measures for areas hit by the Noto Peninsula earthquake on Jan. 1, Jiji Press learned Monday.

This will be the fourth round of budget reserve funds to be used for aid to the affected areas in central Japan.

The government is expected to approve the additional spending at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The government will use 68.3 billion yen mainly for the construction of temporary housing, 64.7 billion yen for the restoration of public and civil engineering facilities, 4.4 billion yen to support affected agricultural, forestry and fishery workers, and 1.6 billion yen for projects to improve welfare and nursing care services, according to informed sources.

In response to the major earthquake, the government has so far spent a total of 276.7 billion yen from budget reserve funds. The planned additional spending will bring the total to more than 400 billion yen.

On Wednesday, Ishikawa Governor Hiroshi Hase visited the prime minister’s office in Tokyo and submitted a written request for early restoration of infrastructure.

The government’s fiscal 2024 budget includes 1 trillion yen in reserve funds. The amount is double the initially planned level, due to the disaster.

Jiji Press