InTouch 5 (2)

A Newsl etter o f the Wo rld Bankjo ovi: C o u n t r y O f f i c e M a n i I a March 2000 Volume 5 Number 2 James D. Wolfensohn Visits the Philippines 23275 WB President Highlights Partnership for Poverty Reduction W orld Bank President James D. Wolfensohn arrived in the Philippines to discuss developmentl issues with the Government and the Bank's partner organizations. Some of these issues were poverty reduction, good governance and transparency. From February 24to 26, the World Bank chief was in Manila for the concluding leg of an official tour of selected East Asians countries affected by the recent regional X financial crisis. During his three-day stay, Mr. Wolfen- . sohn met with President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, members of the Economic Coor- nating Council and other government officials. It was his first visit to the Philip- , pines since President Estrada assumed office on July 1, 1998. Both Presidents expressed commitment to poverty reduc- Philippine President Joseph Ejercito Estrada welcomes WB President James D. tion, a partnership in rural development Wolfensohn (right), while Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA and the fight against corruption. Director General Felipe Medalla (left) and Finance Secretary Jose Pardo (2nd from left) look on. Meeting With Concerned Sectors focus of its Medium-Term Philippine Group, these five elements include strength- A highlight of Mr. Wolfensohn's visit Development Plan (MTPDP). He also ening governance, establishing a proper was his speech during the multisectoral discussed the Comprehensive Development legal and justice system, ensuring compe- conference on partnerships for governance Framework (CDF) and acknowledged that tent financial supervision and control, and development. More than 400 partici- some of its principles are being applied in implementing social safety nets, and pants from the three branches of govern- the national arena and MTPDP. minimizing corruption. ment, the private sector, diplomatic corps, Mr. Wolfensohn described the frame- The World Bank head said, "The element media and civil society attended the work that could effectively address poverty. overriding it all is the issue of corruption. If conference and it provided an opportunity Culled from over 50 years of the Bank's you get all the other elements in place, but for the WB President to touch base with the experience as an international development the society is corrupt, it doesn't work. So Bank's various stakeholders. institution and his personal visits to you have to deal with corruption issues In his talk, he commended the Estrada hundreds of projects in 84 countries during along with infrastructure and social issues." administration for the poverty reduction his first term as President of the World Bank p. 2 In This Isue .CODOWNGOWinsatWBDevttMarketplace, p3 WBPictureGalleryp4-5 In 'niSS Ise *Bank Approves Two New iLoans, p3 WB's New Faces, p6.1  waP*1 WORLD BANK PRESI DEONT VISITS, drawn up during an earlier trisectoral New Funds for Development Programs PR SIE TVS . * conference which involved leaders from During his trip to the Philippines, World the government, NGO and private business Bank President Wolfensohn witnessed the Mr. Wolfensohn pointed out that he was sectors. signing of a $100 million loan agreement to not recommending a formula for success. In his keynote address at the same finance the government's Social Expenditure Instead, he was simply presenting what the conference, President Estrada said that his Management Program. World Bank Manila Bank has found out on a global basis in its administration adheres to the principles of Office Country Director Vinay Bhargava fight against poverty. the CDF and recognizes globalization as the signed the agreement on behalf of the Bank Mr. Wolfensohn made his comments in wave of the future. The president reiterated while Secretary Jose Pardo signed on behalf the light of a 10-point action plan presented his commitment to poverty reduction. He of the Philippine government. to President Estrada during the same elaborated, "Poverty eradication was the Specifically, the loan will be used to multisectoral conference. Among the central plank of my platform when I sought improve the procurement systems, financial priorities listed were the use of the "citizen the presidency. It is now the central driving management and management information as customer" approach against corruption force of my strategy of government." systems of the Department of Education, in all areas of public service delivery and President Estrada emphasized that Culture and Sports and the Department of procurement, strengthening of government combating corruption and inefficiency in Social Welfare and Development. regulatory agencies through the selection of govcrnment has always been a major thrust Mr. Wolfensohn was accompanied by credible public officials and the passage of of his administration. In the delivery of Mrs. Elaine Wolfensohn; Jean-Michel Severino, pressing reform laws, and the decentraliza- essential services, he has committed his Vice-President for East Asia; Jemal-ud-din tion of the management of public schools to government to treat each citizen as a Kassum, newly-appointed VP for East Asia; the local governments. The ten-point agenda customer in much the same way as the best- and Mr. Javed Hamid, Director for East Asia to improve government performance was run private companies serve their clients. Private Sector Development Unit. I could have danced came, started by the staff singing the oblivious of their partners. Comprehensive Development Framework Just when Jim and I became attuned all night with Jim to the tune of "Mambo No. 5." On cue, one to each other's moves, I heard my cue to by ELENA M. MARtTINEZ of my co-dancers cheered me on, "Go, return him to his former place. But, no, Bibi, go!" So off I gracefully went to take Jim wouldn't let go of my hand and (Mr. Wolfensohn's visit to the Philippines Jim by the hand and lead him to the dance wouldn't stop dancing. Instead, he and wasn't exactly a whirlwind of state dinners and floor. Soon, outgoing Regional Vice- I joined my co-dancers for the finale. official meetings. Here's a personal account of President Jean-Michel Severino, incoming Suddenly taking the lead, Jim curled his the night when jim Wo1fensohn slipped on his Regional Vice-President Jemal ud-don right arm around my left arm and his dancing shoes and hadfun on the dancefloor.) Kassum and Jim's wife, Elaine, were also other arm with another colleague, Maribel I nervously sipped my beer minutes on the dance floor. I stood completely Belizario. Instinctively, the rest of the before our song-and-dance dancers interlocked arms and number during the cocktails in = followed Jim who moved forward honor of World Bank President and backward, alternately kicking James (Jim) Wolfensohn who was up his heels along the way. Oh, it then on the last night of his second was so much fun! In the end, we Philippine visit. raucously applauded Jim for his Jim, who's accorded a states- spontaneity and innate talent for man's welcome in many countries, entertainment. That night was just was the unknowing man that I was too short for me. to dance with that night. The more As all the excitement simmered I thought of his global stature, the down, I turned to take my glass of less help I got from my beer. My beer but quickly changed my mind hands felt cold and clammy with since I didn't need it anymore. the sanitizer I had hastily rubbed After all, my evening had already on them. Yet my nerves wouldn't been made, thanks to Mr. Jim calm down, knowing that within Wolfensohn. minutes I would be dancing with no M Ms. Elena Martinez ("Bibi") is ordinary Jim. a Team Assistant at the World Then the intense moment finally Bank Office Manila. 2  CODE-NGO W ins by the World Bank. The contest drew nearly People's Choice awardees, 4 Team's Choice Innovation Competition 1,200 entries from all over the world. awardees and 4 World Bank Institute Choice at v Bs Development Development Marketplace 2000 is a awardees. More than S3 million were forum to encourage cooperation within the awarded to the winning entries which were Marketplace development community in the search for chosen for having the greatest promise of - _ , solutions to reduce poverty. Two events yielding the highest results in poverty highlight the activities of the Development reduction. _ =6 iK _ ;Marketplace: Innovation Competition and CODE-NGO's entry, "Localizing Civil X 8 1 _ Knowledge Products Exchange. Society Campaign To Fight Poverty", aims The first Innovation Competition, held to make the government accountable for the X a s 7 a from February 8-9, 2000 in Washington D.C., progressive decline of poverty in the identified the most innovative ideas in the country, using the following strategies: development community. Come April, 2000, (1) Poverty monitoring at national and local .. . i an exhibition called Knowledge Products government levels; (2) Advocacy for the Exchange will showcase leading edge targeted delivery of basic services, asset The awardees: Ms. Corazon Juliano-Soliman development products and services. reforms and natural resources management and Mr. Danilo Songco (right) of CODE-NGO. Innovation Competition was opened to programs towards high poverty incidence NGOs, businesses, the academe, foundations, areas; and (3) Monitoring of government's The Caucus of Development NGO Net bilaterals and multilaterals. Over 250 teams delivery of anti-poverty programs at Tworks (CODE-NGO), an umbrella caine to Washington D.C. and another 50 national and local levels. organization of 12 networks representing participated via videoconference to present The winners were announced by James 3,000 peoples' organizations and coopera- new ideas and approaches in reducing D. Wolfensohn, President of the World tives in the Philippines, was among the 44 poverty using the Internet as their platform. Bank, at the MC Preston Hall of the World winning entries to the Innovation Competi- There were 44 DM Award winners, 4 IFC Bank in Washington D. C. tion at Development Marketplace organized Award winners, 2 InfoDev awardees, 6 BankApproves Two New Loans for 1< Social Services and National Roads A. the World Bank's Board of Executive largely benefiting the poor during this TDirectors recently approved a package of period of budgetary constraints. We also - assistance consisting of$ 100 million for the want to support government reforms , Social Expenditure Management Project and intended to improve public expenditure , j - $150 million for the First National Roads management in the social sector." Improvement and Management Project. The First National Roads Improvement r:i<La The Social Expenditure Management and Management Project (NRIMP-I) is the4> Project (SEMP) supports the provision of first phase of NRIMP, a nine-year progranim basic social services, particularly those of sustained assistance from the World Bfrl coming from the Department of Education, directed at improving Philippine national, Culture and Sports and the Department of roads. NRIMP supports the Government' Social Welfare and Development. SEMP reform program for the road sector - provides for the construction of 900 class- addressing management and financing rooms and the repair and maintenance of issues of national roads. It also seeks to V - 26,000 sites; the distribution of 25 million develop sustainable financing, promote textbooks and 450,000 desks and chairs; better monitoring of road conditions and W i . and the training of about 5,000 teachers. the involvement of road users, and improve it., The Project will also assist the Social Welfare key business processes within the Depart _ Department in the operation and mainte- ment of Public Works and Highways. . nance of centers, institutions and programs The NRIMP Program will be imple- for distressed and disadvantaged groups in mented in three phases from 2000 the poorest municipalities in the country. to 2009. The first phase, NRIMP-I, will World Bank Country Director for the be undertaken over a period of 3 1/2 years.' Philippines Vinay Bhargava said, "Our aim It will upgrade about 528 kms. of national is to support the Government in protecting roads and provide for the maintenance of . the budget for the provision of basic services 1,000 kms. of national roads. 3  I I I a~~~~~~~~~~~~~f ,24-26';7e6,waItJ 2000 The two Presidents listen intently to the conference proceedings. s~~~~~~~~~w Conr Direcorna Bf7 ,-hagv grees-, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada offeratostoW ldW Cuny ictrnyBhraages Philippine Bank President WOlfensohn during a tate Dn r. President Joseph Estrada. The donor community participates in the conference on Partnerships for Governance and Development. TheWB Chief stresses a point during a Q&A session with Philippine media. 4  WBGaUlery |~~~~~- "''* 'l"' t:r~~~~~~~~~~~~U .~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ... .......t' World Bank Office Manila staff warmly welcomes Bank President Wolfensohn and party. OVERNA aVELOP E OSJ I U I E RADA JANFf S D~ WOLPE;SOpN WB President Wolfensohn talks abu teCmrehensive Development Framework (CDF) atteCneece on Partnerships for Governance and Dvlpet President Estrada gives the keynote address to the Partnerships conference. President Wolfensohn talks legal with Chief Justice Davide. rid PresidentrsWolfensohn g rnand bumps with the svelte ladies of WB Office Manila.  doing something that will have a positive impact on other people. Luisa copes with the demands of her work through a strong support system at home and in the office. She loves to go sailing with her family and friends whenever her schedule allows. She cherishes her time with her family, especially now that a bouncing baby has been added to her personal crown jewels. ESPERANZA "SP" SADIUA is an Adminis- ANGELINA"ANGIE"IBUS istheOpera- ii t trative Team Assistant. She holds a tions Officer for participation/civil Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial society relations. She is responsible for Psychology from the Far Eastern expanding stakeholder involvement in University and Business Management the Bank's operations and increasing the from the University of California at Los level of their participation in World Angeles. Bank-financed projects. Sometime during the I 980s, SP went Angie brings to her new job experi- to the United States and worked as an ences she gained working with interna- Office Manager for an Australian tionally-recognized institutions in the garments company in L.A. for ten years. areas of rural development and institu- When she decided to come to the tional capacity building. Her first - Philippines, she was appointed Adminis- exposure to the field of people-centered trative Assistant at the International development was with the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Institute of Rural Reconstruction where __Management (ICLARM) in Makati City. she spent over 10 years working with Last year, ICLARM announced its people's organizations, government and plans to move to Malaysia and SP found NGOs to implement participatory and herself desperate to land another job. rural development appproaches. It gave Fortunately, the World Bank Manila her the opportunity to share ideas and . L Office took her into its fold. She would experiences wit felo Fiiio. swl (Sitting, L to R): Angelina Ibus, Luisa Espanocla; expericnces with fellow Filipinos as well (standing) Caridad Valerio, Esperanza Sadiua. later find out that she was the first as with disenfranchised groups in countries candidate the Bank called up for the in Asia, latin America and Africa. Her most LuisA SAMBELi EsPANOLA is a Team position. recent professional engagement was with Assistant at the Bank's Infrastructure Unit. At the Administrative Office, SP has the Food and Agriculture Organization with She holds a degree in Business Economics earned the distinction of being the unofficial a Philippine government project that from a university in the United States. She afternoon timekeeper. When the bundy provides technical support for agrarian started her career with the World Bank at its clock strikes at exactly 5:00 p.m., she would reform and rural develoopment in targeted headquarters in Washington, D.C., while her have cleaned up her workstationi and be communities. husband was studying at the U.S. Naval ready to go. She wants to be home with her She is an Agriculture Business graduate Academy. family before sunset. of the University of the Philippines at Los She was very glad that the Bank provided SP is raising two small kids which she Banos, Laguna and holds a Master of her the opportunity to resume her career in showers with her presence and attention as Science degree in Management for Agricul- Manila. She believes that working in a world much as her working week will allow. For tural Development from the Cranfield class organization which helps the less relaxation, she likes to go hiking or camping Institute of Technology in the UK. lustitwoe months echnolog the j, Afortunate improve their lives is a tremen- and taking out of town trips. just two months on the Job, Angie dons experience. Right now, she coisiders manages to keep her weekends free for her her work to bean opportunity to pitch in her MA. CARIDAD "CAY" VALERIO is a Team family and hopes to keep it that way. small share in poverty alleviation plus a Assistant with the Portfolio Management whole lot more. She looks forward to be Team. Prior to joining the Bank, she was 6  WBNews connected with the leading telecommunica- Team Leaders and Officers. hesitate in taking the opportunity to join tions company (PLDT) as an executive It's not something new to her. Prior to the World Bank. She now feels fortunate to secretary to the Vice President. Cay has a her stint at the Bank, she rose from the be with a highly professional organization. Bachelor's degree in Business Administra- ranks at the Philippine Airlines. At PAL, she She considers herself a team player with tion from the University of Santo Tomas practically ran the office single-handedly for a positive work attitude and a willingness to which has helped her a lot in her work a succession of Filipino executives and learn from others to be able to keep pace before and now at the Bank. foreign consultants. with the Bank's high working standards. She is truly grateful for the opportunity What adds a new dimension to her work Those qualities, she hopes, would nurture a to experience work in a multi-cultural at the World Bank Office Manila is the long, meaningful and productive stay with environment where professionalism and excitement of learning the terminology, the Bank. dynamism at its highest standards are acronyms and operating cycles of projects Monette thinks everything boils down to clearly evidenced in the staff s unwavering her Team is working on. It's a tough grind, time management. Everyone has 24 hours to commitment to provide efficient and she admits. But somebody's got to do it and spend each day and she believes she owes it effective support to the country office. to herselfto balance career and family. On the side, she addresses the Bank's Well, she manages her time wisely, policy on life-work balance by keeping enabling her to live up to expectations at her weekends totally devoted to her work and still enjoy her free time going to dentist husband. Cay loves cooking, the malls and watching movies. eating, trying out new restaurants, mailing and watching laser discs at home.a MAYA GABRIELA VILLALUZ is the Operations Officer for Environment. LOURDES "LUDY"ANDUCTA is a Commu- u - . Maya is a Civil Engineer by profes- nications Assistant assigned to the Front - sion, and her post-graduate accomplish- Office Unit. She graduated from the iments include mnasteral degrees in University of Santo Tomas with a I Environmental Engineering and Bachelor's Degree in Economics. Her first 7 Environmental Science and professional stint was with PLDT, Technology, and a doctorate in assigned to the Office of the Vice S Environmental Science. Her previous President, Risk Management Center. working stints with the Department Her exposure to the various adminis- - I of Public Works and Highways and trative and technical aspects from her the Department of Environment and previous job has equipped and enabled r Natural Resources, as well as with a her to cope with the varying degrees of - leading consulting company, firms up the daily demands and challenges posed (Sitting, L to R): Monina Lozada, Maya VilIaluz: her credentials as an environment by the requirements of the Bank. (standing) Lourdes Anducta, Patti Morente professional. A lady with a mind of her own, she Having participated in foreign-aided prefers to experience everything firsthand as P i c projects in her previous jobs, Mava feels she is not the type to be intluenced by atti to get things the right. that working in a multi-cultural workplace someone else's opinion or judgment. Ludy attitude to get things done rght, such as the World Bank is not exactly is a firm believer that a person makes their new to her. She expects the demands on her own destiny. Her ultimate dream is to MONINA "MONETTE" LOZADA is a Team performance to be higher now because experience the thrills of a Safari adventure. Assistant assigned to the Bank's Front Office. the work environment at the Bank instills She spent 11 years as Administrative efficiency and commitment to deliver on PATTI "PATTI" MORENTE. Patti is a Team Services Officer to a top-ranking executive time. Assistant with the Rural Development of the Development Bank of the Philippines. Maya considers herself a well-rounded Team. Onlv six months on the Team, she is Then she moved to the Moldex Group of person, friendly but driven. She is not too beginning to like the daily challenges that Companies as Executive Secretary to the keen on her generation's current penchant come with her new job. She likens her work President for seven years. for malling. She says, "I only go to the malls with running a small office to serve the Monette is clear on the career growth for bargain-hunting and the movies, but clerical and administrative demands of path she wants to pursue such that when nature-tripping is always my first choice." the time came to move on, she did not 7  j i i t ' 1 t,. | | | lF ** | | ,,; | poor on five continents and it gathers first- ' ' D 'NS hand information on the poor, what they want to improve their lives and the kind of innovative Bank policies needed to reduce - 1| _ the 1998 sector study and adding several poverty. In the Philippines, in the Mindanao new ones as well. region, women say, "We boil bananas for Philippine This is the result of a joint study of the our children if food is not available. In some Education for the World Bank and the Asian Development cases, when corn seeds are distributed, we _ l 7 l I l | 21st Century Bank undertaken in collaboration with the cook these seeds instead of planting them. 1998 Philippines Department of Education, Culture and Families borrow money to acquire these Education Sector Studv Sports, the Technical Education and Skills seeds, and the cycle of poverty continues, Itt pages. 1999. Development Authority, the Department of because the are unable to pay ofnf these Science and Technology, and the National loans The Philippine Education Sector Study Economic and Development Authority of Rather than extol the despair of the (PESS) is a comprehensive overview and the Government of the Philippines. disadvantaged, the book also focuses on detailed analysis of the main issues in the . . ' . countrv's education sector, from basic to initiatives that give the poor more power higher education. It huilds on the 1998 Voices of the Poor and greater opportunity as well as a wider sector study and the work of the Congres- Can Anyone Hear Us? range of options at the local level. It offers a sional Commission on Education, highlight- Deepa Naraya, et. al. host of new wavs by which poor communi- ing the progress and pinpointing the 334 pp ties can put themselves in the driver's seat ing the progress and pinpointing the . pp ..... . . direction of future reform efforts. Voices of the Poor s a reveang new stud in improving their living conditions; citing -_I success miodels fromi a njumber of counitries. PESS focuses on the government's by the World Bank on the causes and effects - n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~As Plrofessor Amarty aSen th e 1998 education and training policy in the context of global poverty. It presents detailed ys Professor EconomicS, ts it, of current economic difficulties, the personal accounts from over 60,000 men Nobel te for is, puts it, implications of its continuing integration and women in 60 countries on the realities "[Voicesiof to imvelo us into the global marketplace and the of living with poverty, and what the poor the inside." demands of vulnerable groups. It is need to improve their lot. organized arotind four broad areas: (1) the From Georgia to Brazil and Nigeria to To orderWorld Bank Group financing of education and training and the the Philippines, the new book chronicles the publications, contact: efficiency of resource use; (2) equity in the daily struggles and hardships of the poor International Booksource lower levels of the education system-basic and how their lives are shaped by common Center Inc. education for whom and of what quality; (3) "pains" such as hunger, powerlessness, I1 27-A Antipolo Street skills for competitiveness-the adequacy of social isolation, state corruption, gender Barangay Venezuela, Makati City Tel. (632) 896-650 I / 6505 / 6507 middle- and higher-skills development for inequality and the rudeness of public Fax (632) 896-1741 the future competitiveness of the Philippine officials. According to many of those Or visit our 24-hour online website at economy; and (4) the management of the interviewed for the book, poverty is much www.worldbank.orglpublications. education sector-coordination and more than a lack of income. Poverty also To borrow, contact: facilitation by the center, autonomy and means having no 'voice' in influencing key The World Bank accountability at the peripherv. The book decisions affecting their lives. Country Office Manila comes with a comprehensive statistical Voices of the Poor is the result of ten 23/F,The Taipan Place annex, updating the tables that appeared in years of intensive consultations with the Emeraid Ave., OrCtigas Center The World Bank Countrv Office Manila 23/F, The Taipan Place Place Emnerald Ave., Ortigas Center Stamp I 1vPasig city LHere I ouch i a qrtly newsletter of the World Bank Country Office Manila. All correspondence may be addressed to: The World Bank Country Office Manila 23/F, The Taipan Place Emerald Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. 637-5855 to 64 EDITORIAL STAFF: Vinay K. Bhargava, editorial adviser Leonora A. Gonzales, editor Elena Martinez, contributor Charito C. Sanalila, production assistant