InTouch 2 (1)

A N e w s I e t t e r of t h e W o r I d B a n k R e s id e n t M i s s i o n i n t h e P h i I ip p i n e s S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 7 V o I u m e 2 N u m b e r 1 WB Backs Anti-Poverty Program for SZOP#W T he World Bank and the Government of the Philippines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will U Plan and Priority Investment Program for the Special Zone for AL 7f Peace and Development (SZOPADn . The MOU includes a $10- million proposed loan for the t Government's Social Fund Project for SZOPAD, which will provide graDts to small-scale projects to meet J P .U the basic and social needs of the poor 4 in the region. To help the Government prepare the Social Fund merh Project, the Bank has already mobilized grants of about $450,000. The Social Fund is expected to - become operational before the end - of the year with seed money from the Government. The World Bank - loan proceeds will be available in early 1998. 0 0 - ~ I All fbr SZOPAD. Froia left: Fii(trance Seeretory Roberh, de 0ca7npo; SPCPD Chairinan N.r isuari; WR Prinicipal fd NQ? AdeotSO to the Middle East (ind North Africa Region hasosan El-Rtf,Iii Socio-ecunoo,ic Planning Secrelare nozd an - w-.. l. We at RMPj ,haye taken NEDA Director General Cielito Hahito; anzd Wl7B Country Director fbr the Philippilnes Vi7iay K Bhargara. ,Ple :# fe _ha While the Social Fund is being Investment Program prepared, the Bank and the The Bank will also assist the to ur parnetak d1e veJ alw -a/ d a ne P , pmenl~ lth7eW { Government have also agreed to fast- Government in mobilizing official tAweve, romaine track existing Bank-assisted development assistance (ODA) for -to ~trA'e pe bent15ttv rpe7UFere-- | projects with activities in the region. SZOPAD's Priority Investment I e a,ine, Identified were nine projects in sectors Program. | ,buslnn#yandof rn]ern sOf such as education, agrarian reform, The Priority Investment Program rural electrification, water supply and from 1997 to 1999 will require at least hoper)0*71 -- w 5 irrigation, and women's health in P30.3 billion. It consists of 85 projects the laleat sws about the B+k SZOPAD. Around $20 million will be in six areas-- transport, infrastructure, a~,sii, the P?tifppines ,,disbursed in the next 12 months for rural infrastructure, agro-industrial --:____-_______________-:_-______________ these projects. Please turn to page 2 Q&A with Mr. Bhargava p.2 RMP Now a CU p.5 IN THIS IS S UE Club of 29 News p.3 New Faces Join RMP p.6 WB's Renewal Program p.4 PIC: Your Link to WB p.8  WR Supports Mindanao Peacc Pllan Col tillnu l I Irow 1)a'" I co-chairs wVith the centers, environment, education, and (oxernment will meet capacity building. again in December in The program was presented last Paris. Further August in General Santos City tol2 pledgingfor SZOPAD donor countries and five multilateral isepcdinPr. financial institutions, including the The Consultative World Bank. The meeting was chaired Group is composed of' by Finance Secretary IRoberto de donor countries and Ocampo and W1B Country Director multilateral financial f'or the Philippines Vinay Bhargava. institutions. Last Other officials were Socio-Economic December in Tokyo, I'lanning Secretary Cielito Habito; donors pledged about Chairman Nur Misuari of the $400 mrillion to the Southern Philippines Council for developmcnt of' Peace and Development; Mr. Paul SZOPAD. The World :0 #I I Dominguez, Presidential Assistant Bank pledged S50 for Mindanao; Mr. Manuel Yan, million. Presidential Adviser on Peace Further, the :5 Process; and representatives rrom Bank will continually donor countries and multilateral review the Priority 4 Financial institutions. Investmnent Program t o i d e n t i f y investmnents suitable TSocial Fund f'o r World Bank The Social Fund Project aims to:) financing beyond the provide poor communities with basic Social Fund. socio-economic services and enhance the involvement of' local groups in identifying and managing small-scale projects. It will provide grants, through local government units, non- &Awith Mr. Bhargava government organizations and community groups, to finance small- scale projects such as rural access After the donors' meeting, iow important is capacity- roads, rural water supply and what's next ? building to the overall sanitation, small-scale irrigation Bhargava: The challenge now development of SZOPAD? schemes, communal clinics and for the donors is to respond quickly Bhargava: Capacity-building is schools and effectively to the government's one sector that cuts across borders. The Bank and the Government Ian fe l to tovenmnts.t is crucial to the successful are iscssin th detilsof'te sopecall for assistance to SZOPAD. The implementation of capital projects. arc discussig the details if the scope funding requirements are large. Many donors who attended the of activities and community projects That's why the Philippine government meeting have long been involved in to be financed and the mechanics of is seeking official development capacity-building while others like the Social Funid Project- funding and private investments to the World Bank have focused on supplement its resources. An medium and long-term projects. Donors' Support encouraging start has been made in In general, donors provide ODA To mobilize donors' support for donor support. on different terms. Some provide SZOPAD, the World Bank will use grants while others offer loans. The its global network to facilitate What do you think are the Philippine government prefers grants contacts between the Government significant issues that the for capacity-building, but grants are and the donors. Priority Investment Program extremely limited. For instance, Mr. Ghassan El- should consider? That's why, another important Rifai, World Bank's principal advisor Bhargava: These issues are issue to consider is how the donors to the Middle East and North Africa attracting investment, coordination with grants and the donors with loans Region, attended the donors' meeting of donor support, effective can work together to finance capacity- to explore the possibility of assisting implementation arrangements for the building efforts and the medium and the Government in mobilizing projects, and capacity-building. long-term investment programs in a support of Arab financial institutions single project for maximum for SZOPAI). development impact. The Bank has also prioritized donors' support for SZOPAD. The Consultative Group, which the Bank  Club of 29 News T 5 he Club of 29, whose members are project managers from government agencies involved in World B3ank-assisted projects, has Ilub lDisplays e. E g VV J another testimony to its existence: a NL logo. But it was not an instant logo. Club members competed in the logo Editor's Note: Starting with this issue, design contest. The winner: the logo InTouch will * a designed by Mr. Edgardo Bangit of Further, the two digits bearing inTuclh will be trze a regular corner, the National Electrification the World Bank's logo and that of the for the Club of 29p its mea bers aned Administration (NEA). Philippines 2000 are drawn carefully fctrivities We afe in2,tingt memnbers to Mr. Bangit, project manager of touching the edge lines to indicate share their views anid experiences with us the Rural E 1 e c t r i f i c a t i o n partnership in development. He says, through this newsletter. Revitalization Project, said the logo "This underscores the important role was a product of several people at of the Bank in the achievement of the NEA. "I had an artist who executed national vision of an industrialized my concept on paper," he told Philippines." In Touch. "It was a result of Formed in January last year, the teamwork." How Mr. Bangit did it Club has become both a social club and reflects the spirit of the Club: a forum. All project managers have -'i, , 7 partnership. This same spirit is always been eager to meet at a embodied in the winning logo. designated place to share their Othler criteria: the design mr2ust experiences, views and insights on I h te simple. cnst reflect the spirit of managing WB-assisted projects, as well the Clutb sutch as partnership, as to drink, dine and be merry. development an7d camaraderie, anodl The Club aims to foster a more L rnust be casilv executed in one color. meaningful yet informal interaction The rvinner zoas announced anod among project managers and the awcarcled a pluquc betarinig the ecew World Bank staff. Club of 29 logo durinig thle Discussions are inauguration of the am'u offiec, done in an Mr. Bangit describes the logo as unstructured way. simple. It is easily identified with "We often share Club 29 because the word "club" and our experiences. the number 29 are literally on the They get to know logo. In Mr. Bangit's words: "29 my problems, I represents the initial number of get to know .. ;s. World Bank-assisted projects in the theirs," said Mr. J Philippines at the time it was Bangit. "XVith the organized. The number is written in Club, we feel that , 5 such a way that it can be read as 99." the World Bank / Why 99? has been doing its He continues: "It (the number best to reach out 99) exemplifies growth, implying the t o u s , t o wienner. FVxt Ee rei rc Reon git e xtre eene rich?' rece eie a pie gere Ji increased participation of the Bank strengthen our e,imeimLe ito (te CI,'29 1r0'<1 elo