TACLOBAN, Philippines – The United States on Wednesday (December 18th) pledged more aid to the Philippines, as the Southeast Asian ally appealed for international help to fund an $8.17 billion post-typhoon rebuilding plan, AFP reported.

The recovery plan, released Wednesday by the economic planning department and launched by President Benigno Aquino, calls for spending 360.9 billion pesos ($8.17 billion) over four years.

US Secretary of State Kerry announced the $25m in extra aid while touring Tacloban, which Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated last month. The additional aid raises the American Haiyan relief effort to nearly $87m, according to a US embassy statement.

American firms Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola will help repair, re-stock and re-open more than 2,000 small groceries in typhoon-hit areas, the embassy added.

Aquino thanked the global community, but stressed that there still was much more to do.

"Your help is all the more necessary today, because in confronting the escalating effects of climate change, the resources of countries like the Philippines will be strained to the limit," he told foreign diplomats and aid officials in Manila.