Contacts
In Manila: Leonora Aquino-Gonzales (632) 917-3003, lgonzales@worldbank.org
Anissa Tria (632) 917-3013, atria2@worldbank.org
In Washington: Mohamad Al-Arief (202) 458-5964, malarief@worldbank.org MANILA, April 2, 2007 – The World Bank’s new Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Region, Mr. James W. Adams, ended last Friday his short visit to Manila and to the Bicol Region, one of the poorest areas in the country. He met with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and acknowledged the strong economic performance of the country in 2006. He reiterated the World Bank’s support of around US$643 Million loan assistance to sustain reforms and help translate the recent financial gains into increased investments and income, more jobs, and faster poverty reduction. He said, “The World Bank has increased its assistance to the Philippines to support an agenda that will help make public institutions deliver goods and services by improving the quality of public spending and increasing transparency and accountability in management of public resources.” At the loan signing ceremony of the National Program Support for Tax Administration Reform Project last Friday, he and Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves recognized that the project would be instrumental in strengthening the health of public finances which would be critical in reversing compression of public expenditures for more and better public services. Mr. Adams said, “Maintaining the fiscal momentum and achieving the balanced budget target in 2008 is critical for credibility and will require continued improvements in tax administration and reforms of revenue agencies. Such reforms will enhance greater transparency and more equitable collection of taxes.” Secretary Teves expressed the government’s commitment to deepen the reforms and thanked the World Bank for the support. He said, “I would like to assure the World Bank that we will persistently carry out the challenging task of continuously improving the fiscal health of our country. We reiterate our profound gratitude to the World Bank for being a valuable partner in our nation’s development.” Mr. Adams also met with other government officials, partners from the international development community, and leaders from the business community and civil society groups. In his meetings, he acknowledged the partnerships and the efforts being made to address the governance challenges of the country. He took special note of the progress made so far in procurement reforms and the harmonization of procurement under financing by the Asian Development Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and the World Bank with the public procurement system of the country. Mr. Adams also visited a water supply and sewerage management project supported by both the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group’s private sector arm. He was pleased to see an effective public-private partnership that has contributed to delivery of 24-hour uninterrupted water service to almost all of its covered areas. In Bicol, he saw how cities were developed through good cooperation between the local government and the community. In Naga City, Mr. Adams was impressed with an urban poor upgrading project made viable by the cooperation among NGOs, community members and the local government. After stopping by to see the destruction caused by typhoon Reming, including a badly damaged bridge in Ligao City, Mr. Adams met with local and national officials who shared experiences and discussed challenges related to disaster management. Mr. Adams stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to disaster management that would specify financing sources and arrangements between and among LGUs and national government agencies. | 
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