E-news from the ADB Philippine Country Office

Year 8, Issue 1 April 2013

President Aquino Receives New ADB President in Malacanang

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President Benigno S. Aquino III received newly elected Asian Development Bank president Takehiko Nakao in Malacanang on Wednesday, 5 June. He assumed office as the 9th president of the ADB on April 28, succeeding Haruhiko Kuroda, who stepped down in March. Prior to his appointment at ADB, he was vice minister of Finance for International Affairs.

Reports/Publications:
Asian Development Bank and Philippines: Fact Sheet ADB Annual Report 2012 Asian Development Outlook 2013

Philippine Entries Among "Apps for Asia" Winners at ADB Annual Meeting
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Microsoft Corp. showcase the Apps For Asia Redesigning Development Program at the ADBs 46th Annual Meeting. The program includes concepts for mobile applications that track water usage, consolidate the most sought-after emergency services, monitor medication use among tuberculosis patients, and help public transit users plan travel. Philippine winners are Codetoki (http://www.appsforasia.com/Home/Codetoki), Blood Donors Network ( http://www.appsforasia.com/Home/BloodDonorsNetwork ), and Lean Asset (http://www.appsforasia.com/Home/CompetitionWinners#AccelerateDesk ).

Basic Statistics Civil Society Briefs: Philippines Asia Bond Monitor: Philippine Chapter - March 2013

Asian Development Outlook: Philippines Growth Strong But More and Better Jobs Required
The Philippine economy is expected to sustain strong growth in 2013 and 2014, with inflation within the policy target, but the challenge is to make growth more inclusive by stimulating employment, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.

$12.5 Million Grants to Create Jobs, Improve Tourism in the Philippines

Creating more and better jobs in industries driving growth in the Philippines is the focus of two technical assistance (TA) grants worth more than $12.5 million that will fund a pilot youth job placement program and improve skills in the tourism sector .

$1 Million ADB Project Launched to Support Davao's Sustainable Transport

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Department of Transportation and Communications, and City of Davao, together with the Embassy of Japan, have launched a $1 million technical assistance (TA) project funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction that will support the city in developing a sustainable urban public transport system .

Workshop on Updating Results Frameworks for National Agencies

A workshop under Technical Assistance 7190: Harmonization and Development Effectiveness was held in April 2013 to draw lessons learned from the ADB-supported process of updating national government agency results frameworks for 20 departments with its 113 attached agencies, 32 government executive offices, 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs), and 6 constitutional bodies. The initiative was led by the Department of Budget and Management of the Philippines to meet the requirements of National Budget Circular 532 of 2011. It is expected to contribute to a more transparent and results-based budget for 2014. See speeches .

President Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing ADB President

E-news from the ADB Philippine Country Office

Year 8, Issue 1 April 2013

President Aquino Receives New ADB President in Malacanang

java031301
President Benigno S. Aquino III received newly elected Asian Development Bank president Takehiko Nakao in Malacanang on Wednesday, 5 June. He assumed office as the 9th president of the ADB on April 28, succeeding Haruhiko Kuroda, who stepped down in March. Prior to his appointment at ADB, he was vice minister of Finance for International Affairs.

Reports/Publications:
Asian Development Bank

and Philippines: Fact Sheet

ADB Annual Report 2012 Asian Development

Outlook 2013

Philippine Entries Among "Apps for Asia" Winners at ADB Annual Meeting
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Microsoft Corp. showcase the Apps For Asia Redesigning Development Program at the ADBs 46th Annual Meeting. The program includes concepts for mobile applications that track water usage, consolidate the most sought-after emergency services, monitor medication use among tuberculosis patients, and help public transit users plan travel. Philippine winners are Codetoki (http://www.appsforasia.com/Home/Codetoki), Blood Donors Network ( http://www.appsforasia.com/Home/BloodDonorsNetwork ), and Lean Asset (http://www.appsforasia.com/Home/CompetitionWinners#AccelerateDesk ).

Basic Statistics Civil Society Briefs: Philippines Asia Bond Monitor: Philippine Chapter - March 2013

Asian Development Outlook: Philippines Growth Strong But More and Better Jobs Required
The Philippine economy is expected to sustain strong growth in 2013 and 2014, with inflation within the policy target, but the challenge is to make growth more inclusive by stimulating employment, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.

$12.5 Million Grants to Create Jobs, Improve Tourism in the Philippines

Creating more and better jobs in industries driving growth in the Philippines is the focus of two technical assistance (TA) grants worth more than $12.5 million that will fund a pilot youth job placement program and improve skills in the tourism sector .

$1 Million ADB Project Launched to Support Davao's Sustainable Transport

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Department of Transportation and Communications, and City of Davao, together with the Embassy of Japan, have launched a $1 million technical assistance (TA) project funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction that will support the city in developing a sustainable urban public transport system .

Workshop on Updating Results Frameworks for National Agencies

A workshop under Technical Assistance 7190: Harmonization and Development Effectiveness was held in April 2013 to draw lessons learned from the ADB-supported process of updating national government agency results frameworks for 20 departments with its 113 attached agencies, 32 government executive offices, 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs), and 6 constitutional bodies. The initiative was led by the Department of Budget and Management of the Philippines to meet the requirements of National Budget Circular 532 of 2011. It is expected to contribute to a more transparent and results-based budget for 2014. See speeches .

President Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing ADB President

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Gold Distinction) on outgoing Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Haruhiko Kuroda during the farewell call at the Malacaan Palace on March 13. See News Release .

Signing of agribusiness grant to help Mindanao small-scale landholders on 14 Feb

Country Director Neeraj Jain, Development Bank of the Philippines President Gil Buenaventura, and Al Amanah Islamic Investment Bank President Jose Luis Vera signed an agreement for a $2 million Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction grant to provide livelihood projects in Mindanao. Japan's Alternate Executive Director Hideo Fukushima, Director Javed Mir, and Japan Embassy's Takahiro Echu attended the signing on 14 February at the DBP headquarters in Makati.

Joint retreat of ADB-AusAID-JICA-World Bank Group on 12 Feb

The Philippine Country Office hosted a retreat of Philippine country teams from four development partners. The event aims to reach a common understanding of priorities and ongoing projects; and develop plans for improved collaboration in Metro Manila, disaster risk management or climate change adaptation, and Public Private Partnership.

Board familiarization visit to Ilocos Norte projects from 8 to 9 Feb

A group of Board members and Directors' Advisors on 8-9 February met in Ilocos Norte with beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer project, health sector development program, and land registration grant project, funded by ADB. Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos briefed the group on the province's profile and development prospects.

ADB delegation joins 2013 Philippines Development Forum

PhCO CD Neeraj Jain and Directors SEPF and SEHS led a SERD delegation to the Philippines Development Forum, held on 4-5 February in Davao City. Top government officials, ODA partners, and CSO representatives discussed the progress in achieving inclusive growth and good governance and agreed on next steps, with special focus on Mindanao. ADB co-chaired the forum's deliberations on governance and anticorruption. See website .

$300 Million for Green Transportation Revolution in the Philippines - ADB

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing $300 million towards a groundbreaking project that will replace 100,000 gasolineburning tricycles in the Philippines with clean, energy efficient electric tricycles, or E-Trikes .

ADB Provides $100 Million to Protect Philippines' Stressed River Basins

The Asian Development (ADB) will provide $100 million to help the Philippines protect its vast upper river basins , where deforestation and unsustainable farming practices are undermining the food security and livelihoods of millions of Filipinos, including many vulnerable indigenous communities.