Announcement of Twenty-Five Million Dollars Loan to Increase Supply of Agricultural Manpower on March 3, 1977

•World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 77/63 MARCH 3, 1977 $25 MILLION LOAN TO INCREASE SUPPLY OF AGRICULTURAL MANPOWER The World Bank has approved a $25 mill ion loan for a project in the Philippines that is designed to strengthen agricultural education and provide well qualified agricultural graduates in key areas such as crop, forestry and livestock development. Existing agricultural institutions will be strengthened through assistance for staff development and provision of physical facilities and equipment. Strong national centers in forestry, animal science, and veterinary medicine will be established at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos. The Visayas State College of Agriculture (VISCA), located in Baybay, Leyte, will be upgraded into a strong • regional college of agriculture . In support of the nat,ional food product ion and rural development programs, the project will also develop a national system for in-service training of field extension workers and non-formal training of farmer leaders through the establishment of training centers for rural development. With the assistance to be provided, th~ institutions involved are expected to provide the following percentages of the projected annual national manpower needs between 1976 and 1985: College of Forestry, University of the Philippines (UP), 25%; College of Veterinary Medicine, UP, 60%; Department of Animal Science, UP, 40%. VISCA is expected to provide 20% of agricultural manpower needs for the Visayan region. By 1981, the rural training centers are expected to provide training for 3,600 rural field workers annually. This is expected to afford practically all 2.3 million farm families access to well-trained extension workers by 1985. Over a five-year period, about 450,000 farmers are expected to benefit from the farmer leader training programs to be conducted in the farmer training centers. Each farmer leader trained directly is expected to impart knowledge and skills to about 10 farmers in his village. The $25 million loan is being provided to the Republic of the • Ph i l i pp i nes . I t has a term of 20 yea rs , i nc l ud i n g 4t ye a rs of g race , and carries an interest rate of 8!% a year. Note: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents. Form No. 1121 (9- 75) T E CHNI CAL DAT A PROJECT: COUNTRY: Fourth Education Phi l i pp i nes • TOTAL COST: $45.3 million BANK FINANCING: $25 million Bank loan, 20-year term including 4t years of grace, 8t% interest per annum. OTHER FINANCING: Government of the Philippines IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Educational Development Projects Implementing Task Force ( EDP ITAF) Land Bank Building Telex No. and Cable Address: 319 Buendia Avenue (742)5446 Makati, Manila EDPITAF Phi l i pp i nes Makati, Philippines PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Consists of the construction of buildings and provision of equipment and technical assistance for: the University of t h e . Philippines at Los Banos (College of Forestry, Dept. of Animal Science, and College of Veterinary Medicine); Visayas State College of Agriculture (VISCA); Philippine Training Centers for Rural Development (National Training Center, 5 regional training centers, and 6 farmer training centers). The project also includes fellowships to improve the staff quality of other institutions at Los Banos, technical and management capabilities of the staff of EDPITAF, the technical panel for agricultural education in the Department of Education and Culture, and the Secretariat of the National Government Board in the Depart- ment of Agriculture. PROCUREMENT: Civil works contracts over $700,000 each and equipment and furniture contracts over $50,000 each will be awarded after international competitive bidding, with local manufacturers to be allowed a preference margin of 15% or actual customs duties, whichever is ·tower. Contracts below these aroounts will be awarded after competitive bidding advertised locally, with foreign bidders being allowed to participate. Furniture for VISCA, estimated to cost $200,000,will be produced by the Co11egt: 1 s own workshop. Miscellaneous items, in contracts not exceeding $10,000 equivalent, subject to an aggregate total of $250,000 may be purchased on the basis of acceptable local procedures including solicitation of at least three quotations. Books, amounting to $300,000 will be procured directly from authorized distributors after negotiations for bulk purchase. CONSULTANTS: The project includes financing for 338 man-years of fellow- ships overseas for training the staff of the project institu- tions as well as 1; man-years of specialist services to assist in curriculum development for the Unlversity of the Philippines College of Veterinary Medicine and the Visayas State College of Agriculture; feasibility studies for future education projects and studies on~ industrial pol icy. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: September 1981. -o-