Features::News & Updates

Davao Hosts Knowledge Forum On Social Assessment of Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao
Findings and recommendations from social assessments on the situation and development priorities of communities affected by conflict in Mindanao presented at USEP-KDC.
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Grant Competition for Innovative Projects Launched
NAPC, Donors, Civil Society and Private Sector to support projects for the poor. Concept papers currently being accepted; must be received on or before October 20, 2003.
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Cities in Transition: Urban Sector Review in an Era of Decentralization in
Indonesia
The Urban Sector Review analyzes the trends, achievements and difficulties of a multi-faceted transformation in Indonesia. Against a background of a transfer of power and the associated growth of democratic local institutions in the country’s 30 provinces, 416 districts and more than 50 cities with populations of 100,000 or more, the review concentrates on urbanization. Read the report »»

National Governance Center Launched in Manila
The Hills National Governance Center located at the Asian Institute of Management has been launched. It aims to promote good governance by addressing institutional sources of corruption, promoting transparency and accountability in the private, public, and civic sectors. Full story »»

World Bank Report Highlights Need for Success at Cancun Trade Talks
A trade deal that addresses the concerns of developing nations could spur growth, reduce poverty by as much as 144 million people by 2015, says a new WB report published on the eve of a meeting of the world's trade ministers in Cancun. Full story »»

World Bank Approves Project to Support Philippines Judicial Reform Program
A US$21.9 million loan has been approved for the implementation of the Supreme Court's judicial reform program that will help develop a more effective and accessible judicial system that will foster public trust and confidence. Full story »»

Call For Proposals: Philippine Development Innovation Marketplace
The 1st Philippine Development Innovation Marketplace has been launched. Aimed to stimulate innovation and encourage cooperation within the development community, DIM 2004 invites proposals for innovative project ideas, responding to the theme "Making Services Work for the Poor". Full story »»

Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Grant to Boost Productivity of Private Firms
US$300,000 grant agreement signed to help establish key policy actions to increase private firms' productivity to strengthen resilience to financial volatility or crises, boost incomes, employment and poverty reduction. Full story »»

Japan-WB Scholarship Granted to Five Filipinos
Five Filipinos are among the 400 recipients of this year's Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, bringing to 66 the total number of Filipino recipients since 1987. Full story »»

New WDDP Newsletter released
Download the latest issue of the WDDP Newsletter (PDF Format, 240 KB)

Handbook for Supporting Local Government Responses to HIV/AIDS
The Joint Urban-HDN Initiative, Scaling up the Local Government Response to HIV/AIDS, is developing a Handbook for Supporting Local Government Responses to HIV/AIDS which aims to help LGUs develop or strengthen their responses to HIV/AIDS through information, examples, and illustrative tools (surveys, checklists, modules, etc.). Local government officials and relevant staff are enjoined to review the draft and send comments and/or inquiries to Nina Schuler (jschuler1@worldbank.org) or Kate Kuper (kkuper@worldbank.org). Download the draft overview and annexes (ZIP file, 153 KB – requires WinZip).

New resource material
LGUs from historic cities will find the video Value of Community Practice a good resource on cultural heritage management. The video is produced by Malaysia's Penang Heritage Trust. (Requires RealPlayer)

World Bank-Assisted Projects: Faster Implementation After Four Years of Steady Decline
The performance of WB-financed projects in the Philippines ended the fiscal year, July 2002-June 2003, with an encouraging and notable improvement in disbursing the much-needed funds for development. Full story »»

East Asia's Integration is Key to Billions of Dollars in Benefits: Time for a new trade agenda for shared growth
As countries adapt to China's emergence as a major world/regional trader, WB Philippines' Robert Vance Pulley says the Philippines should proactively seek opportunities to participate in regional production networks as China's accession to the WTO provides opportunities, challenges. Full story »»

World Bank, AIM offer videoconferencing facilities to RP Gov't to offset SARS restrictions on travel
Government to use the Global Distance Learning Center in next six months to conduct, participate in international meetings, dialogues, conferences affected by travel concerns wrought by SARS. Full story »»

East Asia navigates short-term shocks for a stronger future
External shocks such as the Iraq crisis and the outbreak of SARS have put East Asia in an uncertain environment, despite strong growth of nearly 6% in 2002. Given some uncertainties, WB's new growth projections for East Asia will fall to 5% in 2003, before rebounding in 2004. Full story »»

International Conference on Safer Cities held in Manila
World Bank Philippines Country Director Robert Vance Pulley speaks in conference sponsored by The League of Cities of the Philippines, in cooperation with the World Bank Institute and UN-Habitat. Full story »»

RP, WB sign grants of US$2 Million to Improve Urban Poor Communities
Grants aim to help five urban poor communities upgrade infrastructure, test LGU-led sustainable approach to improve living conditions of those in slum and squatter settlements. Full story »»

First Mindanao Working Group Meeting Held
Mindanao Working Group formed to serve as forum for coordination and collaboration on donor-assisted development efforts in Mindanao. Full story »»

New Grant to Save the Ozone in the Philippines
The consumption of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) will be completely eliminated in the country by 2010 through a US$10.58 Million grant for the Philippine National Chlorofluorocarbons Phaseout Plan (NCPP). Full story »»

Latest WDDP Newsletter available
Download the January 2003 issue of the WDDP Newsletter (PDF Format, 528 KB).

World Bank Grant to Help Government Build Consensus for Mindanao
A US$100 Thousand grant agreement was recently signed to help Government implement a consensus-building consultation process with various stakeholders in Mindanao to prioritize and present infrastructure, socioeconomic activities, and programs and projects for donor support. Full story »»

World Bank Grants US$1.3 Million to Help Strengthen RP Agencies
Grants aim to help Government carry out reforms in the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission. Full story »»

World Bank Cites Faster Implementation of Projects
Gross disbursements increase by 66%, disbursement ratio, 72%. Timely interventions by Government oversight and implementing agencies, adequate provision of counterpart resources cited for turnaround. Full story »»

LOGOFIND Progress Report
The Municipal Development Fund Office of the Department of Finance has released the LOGOFIND Project September 2002 Progress Report. Download a copy of the report (PDF Format, 414 KB)

RP Gets Additional World Bank Support for Agrarian Reform Project
80 Agrarian Reform Communities, including 70,000 farm households, are expected to benefit from the recently signed Second Agrarian Reform Communities Development Project. Full story »»

New Social Fund Project to Promote Peace and Development In Mindanao
The Philippine Government and the World Bank signed a US$33.6-M loan agreement for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's (ARMM) Social Fund Project which aims to foster lasting development in the conflict-affected region. Full story »»

World Bank Grant to Help BIR Improve Revenue Collection
The World Bank and the Philippine Government recently signed a grant agreement that will strengthen the capacity of the Bureau of Internal Revenue to increase revenue collection. Full story »»

For Good and Effective Governance: World Bank Grant Supports Procurement Reforms
A grant agreement that will help Government carry out procurement reforms has been signed between the Philippine Government and the World Bank. Full story »»

Small Grants Program now accepting proposals to improve air quality
The Small Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2003 is now accepting proposals for activities aimed at contributing to the improvement of air quality. Deadline for submission is on March 15, 2003. Get details »»

Japan, World Bank Support Community's Participative Approach to Promote Good Local Governance
A US$.7-M grant agreement from the Japan Social Development Fund was recently signed to implement the Developing Community Capacities for Pro-Poor Budgeting and Local Government Accountability for Poverty Reduction Project. Full story »»

World Bank Supports Social Fund Project to Promote Peace and Development in Mindanao The World Bank has approved a US$33.6 million loan for the ARMM Social Fund Project. Around 500 barangays are expected to receive financial and technical support to implement development community projects and activities in the conflict-affected region. Full story »»

More Communities To Benefit From Agrarian Reform Project
A US$50 million loan has been approved for the Second Agrarian Reform Communities Development Project (ARCDP II) which aims to reduce rural poverty and enhance the quality of life of the target Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs). Full story »»

New Loan to Help More Poor Communities
A US$100 million loan for the KALAHI-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) Project was recently signed to help strengthen local communities' capacity to design, implement, and manage development activities.
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World Bank-RP Sign Project to Promote Pro-poor Social Services
The loan agreement for the Second Social Expenditure Management Project (SEMP II) of US$100 million was recently signed to help improve basic social services by enhancing performance and governance in three social sector departments: education, health, and social welfare. Full story »»