Rehabilitation of the Philippines

Report Outline
Relief and Reconstruction in the Philippines
American Trusteeship of Philippine Islands
Problems of an Independent Philippine Economy
Special Focus

Relief and Reconstruction in the Philippines

Major phases of the military job of clearing the Philippines of the Japanese invader have been completed, less than six months after the initial landings on Leyte. The civilian task of repairing material damage and rehabilitating the economy of the islands now moves into first place. The transition was marked by announcement, Apr. 5, that Gen. MacArthur had been assigned to command all Army forces in the Pacific theatre as they drive forward in new offensives against Japan. On the same day Secretary of the Interior Ickes, whose department has jurisdiction over certain aspects of Philippine affairs, stated that he planned to confer soon with President Osmena on Philippine economic problems.

Rapid Release of Philippines from Japanese Control

United States forces invaded Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944. Within a week four other islands, including Samar, had been invaded. The Leyte campaign, concluded the day after Christmas, inflicted staggering manpower losses on the Japanese and seriously weakened the enemy's defense position in the entire Philippine archipelago.

Five major islands, including besides Leyte and Samar the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, and Palawan, had been invaded by Feb. 15. Destruction of the last of the Japanese garrison in the Intramuros fortress in Manila, Feb. 24, brought to a close the military reconquest of the capital city of the Philippines. A landing was made on the southern tip of Mindanao, Mar. 10, giving United States forces control of the entire 800 miles of the western shoreline of the Philippines from Mindanao in the south to the northern extremity of Luzon. Cebu island was invaded, Mar. 26, and Cebu City, second largest in the Philippines, was captured the next day. Invasion of Negros and Masbate followed. By the end of the first week of April, United States troops were in possession of territory on a total of 36 islands, held all of three major islands, and occupied most of the main island of Luzon.