Announcement of Twenty-Five Million US Dollars Loan to the Philippines for National Family Planning Program on July 5, 1974

.NTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTf ON AND DEVELOPMENT 1818 H STREET. N.W., WASHINGTON 0. C. 20433 Tl!L.EfllHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-8380 Bank Press Release No. 74/64 Subject: $25.0 million loan to the Philippines July 5, 1974 for national family planning program The World Bank has approved a loan of $25.0 million to the Philippines national family planning program. It is designed to reduce the total fertility rate by about 25% from 6. 4 in 1970 to 4.8 in the year 2000. With a successful program, total population will then be close to 80 million, instead of over 100 million if the present fertility r.ate remains michanged. This project is in line with the mandate of the new Philippine Constitution making it the responsibility of the State to achieve and maintain population levels most conducive to national welfare. The demographic problem of the Philippines is due essentially to high fer- • tility and declining mortality. The present population growth rate of 3% re- quires large portions of investments just to maintain the annual low level per capita income. Abo11t 25 different organizations in the Philippines are involved in family planning programs. However, they work mainly in urban areas and the task of reaching remote and rural zones, where 70 percent of the population lives, is a responsibility of the Government. Under the project, 205 rural health units and 11 training centers are to be built under the responsibility of the Connnission on Population (POPCOM) - a government agency. The effects of the program will mean for smaller families an improvement in the quality of life, better nutrition for fewer members in the family and better education and employment opportunities. The loan is made to the Republic of the Philippines for a term of 25 years including 5 years of grace, with interest at 7-1/4% per annum. The United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the United States Agency for Inter- national Development (USAID) will participate in some aspects of the program. Banque de l'Indochine, Paris, has agreed to participate in this loan. • Note: - 0 - M:>ney figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.  July 5, 1974 • TECHNICAL D.A,TA PROJECT: Population OOUNTRY: Philippines TOTAL OOST: $50. 0 m.illion BANK FINANCING: $25.0 million, 25 years including 5 years of grace, at 7-1/4% per.annum. OTHER FINANCING: Government funding, l.hited Nations Fund for Population Activities and the U.S. Agency for International Development. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: The Connnission on Population (POPCOM) will co-ordinate the work of the various government agencies participating in the project and a project construction unit will be established tmder the Department of Health, Government of the Philippines. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Construction and equipment of 205 rural health wits • and 11 regional training centers, 200 jeeps for use of the health t.nits, establishment of an Information, Education and 0:>mmunication Division and a Training Division and regional offices in the Commission on Population, improved statistical system in the Department of Health and technical assistance in various fields towards implementation of a new system of health and family planning service delivery using a new category of auxiliary coII1I1tmity health worker to be trained nationwide through the project. PROCUREMENT: International competitive bidding on contracts of $70,000 or m:>re. CONSULTANTS: Will be selected for several public health and family planning activities, training, statistics, logistics, architecture and construction management and supervision. ESTIMATED OOMPLETION DATE: 1979 •