Japan's prime minister has indicated that the government plans to spend more than 100 billion yen, or about 690 million dollars, to help the survivors of the New Year's Day quake rebuild their lives.

Kishida Fumio visited the hardest-hit prefecture of Ishikawa on Sunday to tour evacuation shelters in the cities of Wajima and Suzu. He also held talks with Ishikawa Governor Hase Hiroshi.

Kishida told reporters that he aims to compile a reconstruction aid package as soon as possible. He said the aid will include restoring infrastructure and lifelines, constructing temporary housing, and rebuilding small and midsized businesses as well as the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries in the affected areas.

The prime minister expressed his intention to use the current fiscal year's reserves for the package and to have the additional spending approved by the end of this month.

Kishida said the government also plans to double the reserve fund to 6.9 billion dollars in the draft budget for the fiscal year that begins in April to provide seamless support for the recovery efforts.

He said the Cabinet will approve the revision as early as Tuesday and expressed hope that the bill will be enacted as quickly as possible by the Diet.

The prime minister suggested that his Cabinet will accelerate the procedures to designate the January 1 quake as an "extraordinary" disaster eligible for state-managed reconstruction work.

Kishida also indicated that the government will fast-track the application of special measures to help quake survivors remain employed.