-.-.u i~~~~- l - b ____________ _ - ' - k _ ; _ A Newsletter of the World Bank Resident Mission in the Philppines .WB SUPPORTS BALANCED :g--.a PRO,-POR GROWTRrH - Bhargava : heRp ' Philippine. -Goveirnment support for the -vastly improved = ~ - -: New ResRp and its in'te,rnat.ionai,donors m'acroeconomiic-.-'environment -- lmPbIIipPmes agreed on theneedto istri he, ,hich has been marked by gains of growth more equitably broad-based-strucural reforms in minay K. Bhargava, an Indian across the various'segments of Phil- major 'areas'of the economy. national, takes his official ippine society, pa,rticularly.among- Gro6wth has accele,rated to about post as the Resident Representative the poor, Mr. Callisto Madavo,', 6%; exports;have'increased.by 30%, of the Resident Mission in the Philip- World Bank Director for - East and foreign private investments pines (RMP) this January. Asia and thed Pacific Countrr doubled. dank has been extensive, spanning - -' - - - several sectors and many countries ;.- . in Europe, Middle East and West- ,E em Africa Regions. He joined the _ Bank in 1975 as a credit specialist and worked on agriculture and ru- Z- ral development projects in Yugosla- via, Turkey, Romania, and Afghani- stan. He later moved to the Western m kQ Africa Department covering Ghana, U : Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia as Qr8bahpava, page 5 - 013 WB Director & Chairperson of the Consultaiive Group Meeting, Callisto E. Madavo 0itth Philippine Gorernment officials (from Jefi to right), CCPAP's Francisco del Rosario, Jr., Congressman Renato-Diaz, and..Secretary of Finance' Roberto de Ocampo. p ' ~ _C,CJ° ,U ''v4V;'.' t $Department 1,,annrouncedoatthe The Philippines: hasramoed 'rapidy to Zt More stories and photos closing-_of .the-r'ecently-6on'- wards consolidating"andadvancingthe O i on the CG ........ 2-3 O cluded 19th Consultative: Group 'policy reform process and ha posi- p4 Meet the RMP Staff.... 4 ........ Meeting for the Philippines held 'tioned'itself solidly within the main- < in Tokyo last Dtream of the'globa, market,bSecretary I ^ Procurement L Dcme of Finance and'head of the Phil- -i cS e . p j Donors. comme'nd.d5.' the ippihe delegation, Roberto de Philippine Governrment'tf,or,its Ocampo.reported to the delegates ~- Poverty Report .. . . ... 6 t vibrant eco nomic p e rfo r- of the'annual 'Consultative Group mance.. It also exressedstrong Meeting chaired by theWorld Bank. IV-WE, page 2 WB,f p. 1 11 Now that growth has resumed, it is important to focus more sharply on poverty alleviation. Continued ' 'l robust growth - with special attention - - to poverty alleviation and to invest- ments in human resources - is the key ,* K to meaningful progress with visible' improvement to people's lives,. Mr. x,' Madavo, Chairman of the Meeting, r . continued. ___- - -__ Mhe participants welcomed the __ _I___ Government's presentation on the Ms. Marietta Goco, Chairperson of the Presidential Commission to Fight Poverty, Social Reform Agenda, a package Secretary Ernesto Garilao, Dept. of Agrarian Reform and Vice-Chairman and Lead of initiatives aumed at addressing Convenor, Social Reform Council, zwith Secretary Roberto de Ocampo during the session the minimum basic needs of the on poverty alleviation and the social reform agenda. poor. The Government suggested three areas where donor support woild be needed: addressing the root causes of poverty, targeting the prority poverty groups and improv- T7e Direcor-General ing the design and implementation of NEDA and of povertv alleviation programs. Secretary of Socio- 1 ~~~Economic Planninr- X _k e; n \ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Cielito Hab1ito in a, At the closing session, donors . Cinform adiscussion endorsed the Government's -eco- with Ambassador nomic'plans and indicated new Alfonso Yuchengco commitments amounting to about ^ andanotherdelegate. US$2.9 billion. - The level of donor commitments was consistent 'with the country's estimated external fi- ' nancing-requirements and was -' - viewed by observers as. a reflection - - - . of the official donors'continued con- -' , fidence in the Philippine economy. ' ..-* Tr t . cr , _ -'; Presidential Assistantfor Visayas, . Rhett Pelaez, after his presentation on the I Growth Center in Cebu and the Visayas. ' . , IIJIIIiIk~~~~~ .. ~~~ThieWorld Ba:nk m"ntenhds to pro- li '' 1' V, yide supportofptUS$500 mil- I~~~ ~~~II~~~~ - ~~~lion 'for:1996-,d depndig ,on avail- eleappopriae, projects an the __ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ minatena'nce of an adeq4uate policy 1., framework. TheIankfwillfo m- -r'tenselyon strategies ,and inte-ren- =-''' jtiins that, Xwill help Ith Filipinoppoor - ._ . =,~ iInmroye their lives and create a bet- - v =-> ter:future,for-.their, ch,ildren. .Up- _ -~ - gra d inr g o f basicsocial-s services will' T Xeryrnmuch - ,Tke 'd t s' _Th,e, tra,t,egies wilwl be based on im- -F -proving economic growth to reduce poverty, on design and implemen- from left: WB officials Pamela Cox, Chief, Country Operations Division; Director tation of programs in targeted pov- CallistoMadavo; SatoruMiyamura, Director, WB Tokyo Office; Sanjay Dhar, Principal erty areas, and on strengthening the Economist; Ohene 0. Nyanin, Acting Resident Representativeforthe Philippines; and strategic framework for poverty_'al- Kip Thompson, IFC Regional Representative at the special session with the investors in leviation and improved" 'resource the Philippines. iuse.- Assistance for rura,l develop- ment and.human resource develop- ment will continue to,play a key Francisco del Rosario, -- - -. Undersecretaryl TheConsultative Gfoup-Meet- Executive Director,L -CA,cinaire'a by the World Bank, CCPAterach itely . : ' v i _l .serves as a regular forum for policy interactionpaw2th. :2 ^ / 2 dialo'gue between the Government somte participant's an'dthe donor community and pro- vi&d:a: mechanisrn fo,r mobilizing -,-- .- - official-evelopmient. assist anc'to ,,,, ,,,, rt. t puiblcn, nvsmet pro- 941Up .S.'''' .- ''t ' gram-. o4 ft~~~ - -. - |t N ; , . .g*- -~ Chairper.on of the .Presidential Councti on,Countryside Devopment, t . 1 . i -!UA .˘, *'; ' c Daniel L lLason, with smedelegates. -, ,- - .. ..... , . ki.' .. ......v",, , V'-7. ....., e Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islands) of the East Asia and Pacific Regiox 'M',e'w.- the.Wd Bank 'F'mily.c .. --X- ..".' .-.The long-haired beauty and the ve, in the' '- -2 etarian in -the family is Len. Dr.r;U;_ E -~ _ n < = - ;, Marilene Montemayor, is the fa- vorite among the visiting missions _ _ because she takes charge of the itin- 5m PH any people still get surprised when I give them our office eraries and other needs of the mis- address at the Central Bank Complex. You mean, there is a sions World,Bank office here in the Philippines? Oh, yes... I would answer, and not only is there an office but there are even people manning (or should At the center is Tom Allen, our I say, wonanning the office). One look at the picture below and that Resident Representative for four will explain why I was very specific about the gender. years. Many people were asking --- - . - _ = why we did not give a formal fare- _ well party for Tom. Well, that's Tom. He did not want any special fanfare for his departure. Besides, he would say, I'm not exactly leav- , ,. ,,. ,.:->g<,-. ~ , ' i+ c*. +i'7' ing. I am just being given 4nother as- sign ment in Washington. I 'll defi- nitely come back for special family oc- ', ,6 , q, 7 casions. Tom, as many know is married to Mary Lou, a Filipina. -' d: 0 fi_fi-.-- _ ,> <:^.-wFStanding behind Tom is Loida Faustino, our Records Assistar"- Loids used to work with ABC Cha;s r',, .,-,lez ~ nel 5 as chief librarian. Lihitz or Liberty Cardenas processes and assists in the disbursement opera- tions of the World Bank's local con- TheRMPfamily sultants. Wearing Cory-like attire - is Mary Lou Allen, Tom's wife, who The photo was taken on the last day in the office of outgoing Resident Representative, Thomas W. up to this day has remained a dear Allen. (See related story, Bhargava New RMP Head). We pulled ourselves together i ftnt of friend to the staff. Still smarting painting that we have dubbed, Mang Pandoy.fredtthsaf.Sism from the touching farewell scene is From left to right: Cecilia Vales (Cecile) is our Operations Officer, Zenaida Uson, our friendly Ad- in charge of Procurement, Disbursement, and Audit. She is our A-T-T- ministrative Officer. Zeny has been Y. and that means she gives free legal advise to us because she is a law- with the RMP for nine years and is yer, not to mention that she is also a certified public accountant. Next to the person who could tell the his- Cecile is Maribel Belizauio, also an Operations Officer, who looks into tory of RMP. Together with Zeny all the other facets of operations. Maribel has earlier worked at the since 1987 is Efren Vallejo, our World Bank Office in Washington for 10 years, as Operations Analyst driver who could be as articulate as in the South Asia Region. Standing right beside Maribel is Liberty any politician on burning issues of Alexandra Reposar or Sandy, our staff assistant for Programs and Ex- the day. Next is Susan Aquino, ternal Relations. She is one of the faces behind this newsletter and the the darling of everybody, who numerous publications that we send out. The lady next to her is Evelyn is willing and able to assist any- Quirante. Evy, assists both Maribel and Cecile in the Operations Unit. body in distress during our every- Vivacious Evy has been with RMP for close to three years. The man day grind. with a wide smile is Ohene 0. Nyanin, our Deputy Resident Represen- tative who hails from Ghana. He was assigned to the Resident Mission On the front row from right to in1992 but has been in the Bank since 1985. Before his post in Manila, he left: Shobha Shetty from India, was a Senior Economist in the Country Department 3 (Indonesia, is here for six months for her first rotational assignment under the Bhargava,fromrpagel Oman. Just prior to his new assignment as voung Professionals Program ofthe _ Resident Representative to the Philippines, /orld Bank. She has been work- _ he was the chief of the Division which .g on the Water Resources Devel- handles poverty alleviation, health, edu- ing on the water Resources Devel- r _* Project. or .~ ,,* _ cation, and labor market reforn projects opment -roect. Vir or Virgilro .- < _ .in China and Mongolia. Mr. Bhargava Serna is one of our drivers who can looks forward to taking up his new as- cleverly weave through the mon- p 4:- _ * sigmnent in the Philippines. I come at strous traffic of Metro Manila to get - such an exciting time when the Philippines his passengers promptly to their - is in the midst of an impressive economic destinations. - recovery. I see how the Resident Mission in the Philippines can continue to play a key Try calling us up and you will a role in enriching the partnership of the Phil- hear the sweet voice of Cheryl I ippine.GovernmentandtheWorldBank. Cheryl, who recently got married, Changing of the guards at RMP: Vimayis the urdResidentRepresen- is our lovely and friendly reception- Bhargava and Allen tative since the World Bank opened an ist. The lady who is kneeling at the an Operations Officer in the Industrial office in Manila in 1987. Mr. Rolando front section is Brenda Bermudez Development and Finance Division., Arrivillaga was the first Resident Repre- who is all of 5' 5" when standing From 1987 to 1993, he became Chief of sentative. Vinay succeeds Mr. Thomas up. Brenda is the Secretary to the the Industry and Energy Operations Di- W. Allen who was Resident Representa- Resident Representative and vision in the Middle East Country De- tivefrom 1991 to 1994. Mr. Allenhasbeen doubles up also as Administrative partment. At this post, he covered reassigned to the Bank's Headquarters in Secretary. Cheerful Eva Cardenas projects in the areas of industry, power, Washington in the Eastern Africa Depart- is all smiles here because she has just oil and gas, telecommunications, state- men1tt balanced and closed the imprest. owned enterprise reforms and Eva, a certified public accountant, pnvatizationinEgypt, Jordan, Yemen,e Vinayas masR edtoRNimmiandRhas usists our Administrative Officer. To the right of Eva is Araceli Tria, who is Cheloy to friends and CT to Pr c em n S mi a Ohene, our Deputy ResRep whom she has been assisting for close to --. three years now. Leaning on the - center table is yours truly, Leonora Gonzales, External Relations Of- _ - - ficer. I am Nor to many of my TX i i hepmit)pii friends, most of whom belong to the - F (LR) ~Mr Lanird, of tbe NGO community where I came & A wnt from. |Director Tugp,iai 4 j j abk43 NFINA and MrGaneez Inset photos show Lani AdIpL..er WB but Asia Azarcon. Lani, our Program Of- ficer was in Washington, acting as Country Officer for the Philippines -__t________.___ - at the time this photo was taken. -. :-- For five straight days, more than pesonnel from goverinent line and Another person who was not oversight agencies partipated in a semimnar on pr6curem olieand ui"e- in the group photo is Ronnie or lines1of the World Bain- The seminar was one of a- serie-s of the Bank's on-goig Sofronio Abubo. Ronnie is the activities aimed at enhan thecapacty ,ofgoveiirinent-agencies hr le- person who rides the motorbike mentation of World-Bank-assiste-dprjects; vith a pager on his waist, and The resouroe spEaersweer. Feden Gmnenez, Mr. Etienne Unari and knocks on your door to deliver Mr._Ohene O. Nyarin' f the World Bank Mr Nyanin welcomed the partici- World Bank documents. a pants by explaining the rationl for the seminar.Direitor Rolando Tungpalan of the Pijed Monitoring StfNEDA, also the participants, on be- half 6f the Government . EUCE WORLD BANK Strategy to Fight Poverty A partner in strengthening t is rea needed? economnies and expanding inarkets to iin prove the qtiality of ^ = .- . -=-.; , .-. f:----:-- -_rke_s to proetheqliyoften hear parents' largest single contributor,to. the eco- life for people everywhere, IA_from low and middle noric growth rates o the:high-perforr especially the poorest _ class familie- admonish their'' ing an ecoin omies, - - children this .-,TAnrging ch,ildr,en'this,wa,y .',Besides'educationfor'the poor, edukasyon, ,; Jam I,afin:g- a ;, ng -thegReport attempts to crystallize kayamanang,.n ma,ipamamana. other key, but unresolved issues i'n namin-sa inyo, mga anak (Educa,-, poverty allenation; Te Report also on ,i,s' t,he o,nly weal,th y,ou carn ' gave further, thought to rural and herit fro us.i)j And so we-hear, of-urlan development. S'uccess in pov heart-reniding tales of pa,rents in the erty aeleviation'will require a 'cornpre- pr vincies.selling their precious hensive-rural' deve opment effort and carabaos or inherited farmlands- tO°- -,:the fqcuse4d'pr6visi6n' of k rvics5 _- -_ send -theirachildren to the tcityto for th -rfae#.evie he'citthe urban poor 'rN With:- this report,wthehBank The hope of the-se pEarents to nse hopes to'stimulate,an informed dia- ab;ov'e 'th,e'ir p oo r c nditiongs through. -loge with Govern ment and stake - We are happy to introduce edu,cation has-aftera a- good basis:: holders like the NGOs, business sec- INTOUCIL our way of keeping cordmg to the latest publication of .-tor,- media"and others. ,-'Health,an our communication lines open. the. World. Bank on poverty, Ph,dip- nutrition2 land refon', microcredi We encourage you to give us your Pines )A Strategy to Fig Povert -a -rural infrastructure and an, efficient, feedback either addressed to countyx must develop and make use -'-but effective safetynetfor-the oor Mr. Vinay K. Bhargava, f itS people's' skills knowledge andc are some'of the other issues' cover'ed our Resident Representative or to health to b8'able4to reduce.poverty in by .the. -Rep'ort'. '