A Newsletter of the World BankC o u n t r y O ff i c e M a n i I aMarch -June 2001 Volume 6 Number 3

'Better Future for the Youth'

Government,WB Launch Partnershipfor Out-of-School Youth

Filipino out-of-school youth deserve it T

a better future. Giving themopportunities to go back to school AL

and to become self-reliant andproductive members of society willhelp secure that future.

This is the goal of the Partnership for 4!X

Philippine Out-of-School Youth,which was launched recently by thePhilippine Government, the Childrenand Youth Foundation, and the AyalaCorporation with the support of the Helping the Youth. Vinay Bhargava, WB Country Director for the Philippines, w,elcomes President GloriaWorld Bank. Macapagol Arroyo, the guest of honor during the launch of the Partnership for Out-of-School Youth, Looking

on are Patty Lyons, Chairman-President of Children and Youth Foundation of the Philippines, and Social Welfareand Development Secretary Corazon Solimon.

Grants from Japan Social Fundand ASEM Trust Fund grants are administered by the World entrepreneurial activities through

Bank. Mr. Bhargava and Philippine various forms of technical assistanceWorld Bank Country Director Vinay Government representatives thanked under the OSCY Project.Bhargava said the Government of the Government of Japan andJapan and the World Bank had members of the ASEM Trust Fund She emphasized that the fate of theapproved a grant of $1 million for the for their contributions. country depends on the education ofOut-of-School Children and Youth young Filipinos. "We cannot achieveProject (OSCY), which will be President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, lasting and sustainable progress if weimplemented until 2003. the guest of honor at the signing of leave out all of those millions of out-

the grant agreement of the Japan Social of-school youth from the fruits ofThis new grant follows an earlier $1 Development Fund, said her development."million grant from Asia-Europe administration would give the youth (- 7

Meeting (ASEM) Trust Fund. Both access to education, employment and

* GOP ODA Agencies Adopt Measures to Improve On the Frontline:Touching the Lives of Filipinos pp4-5In This Issu Project Performance p2 Capacity BuildingWorkshops for NGO's p7ssu .. AAJ ~ Government Economic Managers, Donors Gear Up WB Publications p8

to Fight Poverty p3

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The Government of the Philippines(GOP) and three Official Development GOP. ODA Agencies AdoptAssistance (ODA) funding agencies-Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan I roveBank for International Cooperation Measures to Imp(JBIC), and World Bank (WB)-recently held the first joint ODA Project Performanceportfolio review under the Arroyoadministration.

The meeting, aimed at improving theimplementation of ODA-fundedprojects in the Philippines, was attendedby officials of Philippine governmentagencies, representatives from the threeODA funding agencies, and the JapaneseEmbassy.

The country's current ODA loanportfolio consists of 184 active loans Tough Job Ahead.Government and WB officials discuss ways on how to improve the per, ormance of the Philippries'

with net commitments of US$12.5 foreign assisted projects.

billion. Of these loans, 178 are project-type worth US$11.2 billion while six Budget and Management Secretary out the need for the government to takeare program-type worth US$1.3 billion. Emilia Boncodin said that with the a more proactive role in ODA portfolio

Ensuring large, positive ballooning fiscal deficit, the government management.benefits to society had to operate on a reenacted budget ADB Country Director for the

and focus on results and outputs within Philippines Gunter Hecker said theSocioeconomic Planning Secretary available resources.

Dante .Ca.s h hie h government's implementing andmeeting, sailts, revire d mae "Some realignments and reallocation oversight agencies should take a more,netg sad the review would makesuretng thatlthe ODA-funded prograwill have to be done to accommodate proactive and facilitative stance to ensure

adroectsa the governmen yield priority activities and projects. This that projects are done and benefits areand projects .thegovernmentymeans that some activities will have to realized without delay.

large and positive benefits to society be deferred," she said. The governmentdespite the obstacles accumulated over 'Fcsgo on otol

was committed to allocate at least P60 Focusing on sound portfoliothe past two years. . . . . management, Hecker said these agencies

billion for foreign-assisted-projects in should have greater accountability,"The new administration is eager to 2002. ownership, and commitment to the

demonstrate its capacity to dismantle "The basic framework for foreign- projects' successful implementation.the obstacles that beset the respective a ptprograms of the three ODA funding siste iprove the mediu- term Counsellor Takashi Hoshiyama of theagencies," he said. is to improve the utlization of budget Embassy of Japan stressed the

appropriation to at least 80 percent," importance of making appropriateFinance Secretary Alberto Romulo said Boncodin said. development and investment allocationsthe government has embarked on a Need for government to to reduce the budget deficit and ensure

comprehensive assessment of foreign- take proactive role effective development in the Philippines.assisted projects that will minimizeunnecessary cost and waste arising from For their part, ODA funding agencies The JBIC Senior Representative Yasuopoor design. "For new projects, the commended the Philippines for the Fujita informed the group that thegovernment is instituting a screening initiatives done by the Arroyo Philippines had recorded the highestprocess to ensure that project quality at administration in improving its ODA disbursement rate of Y65.8 billion inentry is achieved," he added. portfolio performance. Still they pointed (0- 3

2

WBNews

its 20-year history of availing of Japanese "This is indeed a 'best practice' in * Joint ICC and DBCC will be theODA during the Japanese fiscal year partnering for development effectiveness oversight body for ODA.2000 (April 2000-March 2001). "We and should be scaled up beyond portfolio * Loan proceeds will be used forsee this as a good achievement but there reviews to the programming exercise," capacity building.is still room for further improvement," he noted. * Civil society's participation in ODAhe said. results monitoring will be

He added that the new administration expanded.Unique ODA review has ushered in a more vigorous and * ICC will review the operations of

rigorous Investment Coordination the M ipl Devieopmern ofThe World Bank underscored the Committee (ICC) and Development tOe oufictpal Development Func

uniqueness of the Philippines in terms Budget Coordination Committeeof the government initiating regular (DBCC). Of the country's 184 active loans, JBIC

joint review meetings to improve has the lions share with 87 loans worthportfolio performance. "We are confident that the apparent US$7.2 billion, comprising 58 percent

According to WB Principal Operations trength of the GOP's commitment to of net commitments. ADB has loansAccording,to WB Principal Operations resolve the long-standing ODA worth US$2.9 billion (23 percent),Officer Aloysius Ordu, the GOP-led problems in a business-like manner will World Bank has 26 loans worth US$1.8partnership with ADB-JBIC-WB aimed soon bring about good results," Ordu billion (14 percent), and other bilateralat resolving ODA problems, is unique said.to the Philippines in the East Asia region"since no other country in the region Other agreements reached by the GOP US$628 million (5 percent).has successfully done it in a systematic and the ODA funding agencies toway." improve portfolio performance were:

Gov't Economic Managers,Donors Gear Up to Fight Poverty4 IIIIIIIllf '. the war against poverty within the

-sS - > --- --- v _ Yl =ffi decade," he said.

Speaking on behalf of the donor¶ 7k - b _ . _community, World Bank CountryDirector Vinay Bhargava thanked the

.5_ -- ~ t S - , ~ Arroyo administration for theopportunity to dialogue with its

Settling Down to Work. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante Canlas (extreme right) discusses the economic managers. He alsogovernment's socioeconomic policies, which are founded on market reliance and good and effective governance, commended the new administration forWith him are (from left) Central Brnk Govemor Rafael Buenaventura. Budget and Management Secretary Emilio mn Boncodin, WB Country Director for the Phiiippines Vinay Bhargava, and Finance Secretary Alberto Romulo. its solid start" despite the lack of the

usual transition period between

G overnment economic managers and Finance Secretary Alberto Romulo said administrations.representatives from the Official the Arroyo administration has been "We are pleased to note that the foreignDevelopment Assistance (ODA) donor vigorously putting together a credible investors who had turned their backscommunity met for the first time in socio-economic development plan. "The on the Philippines in the last two yearswhat could be described as a gesture by plan spells out the various policies and are giving the Philippines a second look,both sides to work together in pursuing programs aimed at achieving the and the domestic business confidencethe country's anti-poverty goals within development goals set by the Arroyo has risen," Bhargava said. (O 6the decade. administration, anchored on winning

3

On the Frontline:Touching the Lives of Filipinos

The Country Directorfor the Philippines Vinay Bhargava ,and his staffhave brought the Bank closer to many Filipinosthrough decentralizedfield operations. It was Vinay whowas at the helm ofthe Manila offie when the Bank decided Vinay. The name he's fondly

to decentralize its operations in the Philippines and the Asia- coiled by hi stofctthe Mani9a

Pacific region. the Staff Association's GoodMonagerAward.

The Bank's decentralization straregy countries like the Philippines where many What Vinay did was to ask the two groupsrequired Washington-based staff to work people, especially the rural folk, despite to put themselves in each other's shoes.

their substantial contribution to the He told his national staff: "Look, everyone

servectl and th ser witu s they deaple the economy, remain poor. That's why in the who comes on a mission is in a hurry topast five years the Bank has focused its get their work done and get back to their

With decentralization came empowerment expertise and resources on rural families. So if we can do anything to helpand accountability. More responsibilities development and poverty alleviation them, we should." At the same time, hewere complemented with authority. Vinay projects. Over US$804 million has been counseled the visiting mission staff: "Forempowered the Filipino staff at the Manila approved for 10 projects that will help you, this mission is your overriding task,of fice by shifting a large number of tasks

reduce poverty and more than US$500 so you want the field office staff to workfrom Washington D.C. ro Manila so they million has been committed to i 0 projects weekends or evenings - but they see manycould effectively meet the needs of the that will help develop the rural areas. missions. Respect their weekend rime."Bank's clients.

Helping fiat poverty in te field ~Pa ipation of civil society Subsequently, Vinay developed guidelinesfor what services a mission could expect

Help the world - the governments of T and what services it could not. Themany countries and their people - reduce, participatioi .the stakeholders, including guidelines, which were later printed and

if not eliminate, poverty. This is the battle NGOs and the civil society. One of observed, set the tone that was bothcry of every World Bank staff, gearing up Vinay's major accomplishments was the friendly and cautionary. For finding aand fighting poverty in the field, in any broadening of participation of the civil way around frcton, Vay wascountry in the world. This is the mission socnetyv a the desogn, emplementationc commended by the Bank, citing his

and the passion of the Bank's Country emotional intelligence as a manager.Director for the Philippines Vinay Strategy.Bhargava, as well as his team of highly Evidently, this was the result of Vinay's partnership of the Bank with thecompetent and very dedicated staff at the consultative and participatory style of gvrnent, the ivi sity theBank's Manila office. leadership and management, which earned business sector to help improve the lives

him not only the respect of clients but buiesecotohlimrvtelvsVinay, who leaves for a new post in July him nor on the respect of9clie of out-of-school youth and children. Forafter leading the Bank's operations in the also his peers in the Bank. In 1998 he this project, he mobilized grants of closePhilippines for five years and six months, received the Staff Association's Good to US$2 million from the Asia-Europehas found a way to make every Manager Award for excellence in managing Meeting Trust Fund and Japan Social

the Bank's Manila office and the Bank's Delom Fudundertaking of the Bank meaningful to atvieinhePlpiesDevelopment Fund.the government, the civil society, the donor activitiesninrthe Philippines.community, and the business sector. Under Vinay's leadership, friendly and Vinay als eoragedith biliin

community,~~~~~~~~ of other grants for capacity building suchAs a development expert who has been harmonious working relations between as the Global Environment Facility, thewith the Bank for 25 years, Vinay knows the Bank's visiting mission and the staff Montreal Protocol and the Institutionaland understands the needs of developing at the Manila office was fostered. Development Fund. "

4

The Country Director-Front Office Team:The Vital Link Between the Bank and Its Clients

information kiosk, which presents the anyone can wish for. He is also a mentor, aBank's operations in the Philippines colleague, a friend, all in one," she relates.and its staff in multimedia format. IfBedwokdictyihteCunrIn the kiosk, researchers can browse Icover the various Bank-assisted projects; Director, Loida Faustino and Ludy Anductathey can also see and hear each of the provide support to the staff of the Front Office

lTeam. Loida, an Information Assistant who hasstaffwelcoing tem tothe Bnk. been with the Bank for six years, says being part

Manning the PIC is Chat Cabalang- of the team gives her "a sense of involvement inSanalila, Public Information Assistant, the Bank's mission of alleviating poverty andwho is always ready to assist researchers making the lives of the Filipinos better." Towho want to know more about the Loida, Vinay is a mentor. "He lets you growBank. She also helps in keeping the professionally and helps you develop your skills,"Bank's clients and stakeholders she says.informed of ongoing activities in the Ludy, Communications Assistant, says working

The'Vital Link. The Country Director-Front Office Team: (seated from eft) Phlppes and events and programs with the Bank gives her self-filtfillment, security,Loida Foustno, Bei Zonogo, Chat Sanaoia: (standing from left) Nor Gonzales, WashingtnDC" work is and a sense of accomplishment. "My job providesVinoy, LadyAnducto ond May 0lalia, Washangton D.C. iMy work is me an opportunity to develop my skills, as well

challenging because It allows me to a bnet eaPT fteBnsmsino

The Country Director-Front Office Team is a deal with different kinds of people and handle as a chance to be a part of the Bank's mission ofcrucial part of the Bank's operations in the different types of queries," she says. alleviating poverty in my country.Philippines, serving as the link between the Bank Another valuable member of the team, Bei May Olalia, Operations Officer for Knowledgeand its stakeholders. Zonaga, Operations Officer for Programs, finds Sharing, has always been interested in

In particular, the Country Director-Front Office working with the Bank challenging. "Being in development work. "And working with the WorldTeamn provides overaL direction for implementing the Front Office and being known as the NOTA Bank is an excellent opportunity for networkingthe Bank's policy in the Philippines, including Officer (officer for none-of-the-above), I get to with and mentoring and coaching by developmentformulating and managing the Country Assistance handle a lot of work that is not routine. So there's experts of high caliber and global experience."Strategy (CAS), coordinating and programming always something new and interesting for me to Building relations with stakeholdersaid activities among donors, managing external do, which I think brings out the best in me inaffairs, library and records management functions, terms of testing my resourcefulness and Leonora Gonzales, or Nor to most friends fromand supporting the financiaL sector. innovativeness," she says. the NGO and media circles, is the Bankis External

Relations Officer and NGO Liaison Officer. SheNine major functions Bei's supervisor is Vinay, whom she considers "a sees to it that the Bank carries out an effective

terrific boss in many ways, who gives me the right strategy for building relations with various• Coordinates overall policv dialogue with the balance offreedom and guidance to do my work." stakeholders. "I remember that when I joined the

Government and other stakeholders, "I have a high respect for him as a person and as Bank in 1995, when we were formulating our

i Manages the implation of the CAS a manager, and that contributes a lot to why I communications strategy, we spent much time* Responsible for aid coordination and enjoy my work at the Bank," she adds. discussing who our client was. Because at that

programming activities Efficient support time, the usual dealings would be mainly with* Manages knowledge-sharing activities the Government, or even more specifically, the* Overseas the management of Bank-assisted The Front Office Team Department of Finance. Now, of course, while

projects provides a lot of support to the Government is still very much part of our* Formulates and carries out external affairs the Country Director. The stakeholders, we now define cLients as the Filipino

activities in the Philippines effectiveness of Vinay as a people. Hence, my work is to help build bridges* Handles central filing, public information manager and a leader is of communication and eventually strategic

control and communications with the World partly attributed to Brenda relationships with civil society, business groups,Bank headquarters, management and clients Bermudez, Executive media, community organizations, academic

* Responsible for liaison and client relations Assistant to the Country institutions and others."in the financial sector Brenda Beh edez

* Provides support for task team members and meetig. aher es ar On Vinay, Nor says, "He has so much energyvisiting missions for the financial sector mscheduled and coordinated, tasks are appropriatly and passion for any work that will translate to

Open, accessible acted on, deadlines are met, and documents are the improvement of the lives of the people. Andproperly distributed, his passion is very contagious. That's what I likeThe public - students, professionals, businessmen about him. But while he is dead serious about

- get to know the Bank indirectly through the For Brenda, joining the Bank in 1993 was just work, he would always remind us to put prioritynewspapers and other publications, or directly another exciting job in a more prestigious to our famiLies." As with the other staffworkingby calling its Manila office located at the 23rd organization, which offers better opportunity for directly with him, I would say, it was a privilegefloor of The Taipan Place on Emerald Avenue, personal and professional growth. "Today, my to work with them. In our recent staff retreat,Ortigas Center, Pasig City and visiting its Public job is still as exciting. But more than that is the when the staff were asked, 'What was the bestInformation Center (PIC). thought that I have been part of the Bank's efforts that had happened in the past five years? Many

to fight poverty and improve the lives of the staff members simply said, "VINAY."The PIC offers the public a wealth of information people." She says working closely with Vinay ison the Bank's worldwide operations. It has an an achievement in itself. "Vinay is the manager

LIUvmt tl" aitemat

WBNews0 3 Gov't Economic Managers, Donors Gear Up to Fight Poverty

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ODA- assisted projects, environmental However, the allocation for theDante B. Canlas said the greatest safeguards, and poverty reduction distribution of this appropriation hingeschallenge that the administration faces programs. on the cleaning-up of the existingtoday is the need to eliminate poverty. "We are heartened by the President's portfolio. This will be directed towardsThe anti-poverty program of maximum utilization of existing ODA

statements that her government would government is embodied in the , . ., funds.Medium-Term Philippine Development operate on the primcples of transparencyPlan for 2001-2004. and effective implementation," he said. * Implementation problems. To improve

Canlas said various measures have been project implementation and intensifyMarket reliance, good governance p i p t m i the clean-up of the existing portfolio,

put in place to minmilze inefficiencies 'IbnetknCanlas said the administration anchors from the use of ODA. The two measures wi its socioeconomic policies on market administrative order that recently continued joint oversight agencyreliance and good and effective transferred to the NEDA Board the quarterly performance review andgovernance. "Much of the growth in review of major contracts and projects consolidation of monitoring effortsincome and employment will come from of government agencies and government through a Joint Investmentthe reliance on the ability of markets to corporations has resulted in the approval Coordination Committee-Developmentdirect resources like capital, labor and of 1 1 contracts, most of them in Budget Coordination Committee.credit to their most valued uses," he infrastructure and social development. Boncodin added that the monitoringexplained. "Together with these measures, we will of government corporations should be

"One aspect of good governance is to also work towards a more strengthened restored through the reactivation of theconcentrate the efforts of the relationship with the donor Government Corporate andgovernment in correcting the community," he said. Coordination Committee.inadequacies of market outcomes. This To support the cleaning-up of existingis indicated in the areas of public safety, Critical issues: budget and portfolio, budgetary flexibilities onquality basic education, agriculture implementation reallocation and realignment willmodernization, and investment in continue to be adopted, she said. "Thetechnological advances," he added. Budget and Management Secretary objective is to achieve a maximum

Canlas assured the donor community Emilia T. Boncodin identified two utilization of the budget appropriationCanlas assured the donor commumty . .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~omuiy rtia iseChanlase asminisured ion is committed to crtical Issues which should be addressed to at least 80 percent."that the administration IS committed to ado hc oceeplc cinimproving ODA portfolio performance sod be aopte The donor community expressed fullconsistent with President Arroyo's support for the government's prioritycommitment to good governance. - Budget availability. While the 2001 for peace and development inBhargava emphasized the need for Budget as reenacted provided only some Mindanao, reduction of the medium-effective implementation of laws and P28 billion for foreign-assisted projects term budget, improvement of

effective implementation of laws and policies governing private investments, (FAPs), appropriation for FAPs will be governance, and updating of thepublic and corporate sector governance, restored to at least P60 billion in 2002. medium-term plan. rq-ffl

Disbursenent SerrinarIn conjunction with a disbursement mission from World BankHeadquarters, two disbursement seminars were recently held atthe World Bank Office. The seminars were attended by governmentdisbursement officers and agents who discussed the Bank'sdisbursement policies and processes and how these relate withrelevant government practices, disbursement actions, moniitoring, 'iand project termination. A total of 53 participants attended theseminars.

6

l b GovernmentWB Launch Partnership forOut-of-SchoolYoudh

Tri-sector collaboration partnership by Social Welfare and Capacity BuildingThe Partnership for Out-of-School Development Secretary Corazon r forYoThe warnship form y Outh-childn Soliman, Chairman-President of the Workshops forYouth was formed by the Children Children and Youth Foundation ofutGosand Youth Foundation of the the Philippines Patty Lyons, and Ayala NGOsPhilippines, the Department of Social Corporation President and CEO JaimeWelfare and Development, and the Agusto Zobel de Ayala. _-__Ayala Corporation. It is a pioneering _ I de Ayala.effort of the World Bank's Global The pilot phase of the OSCY ProjectPartnership for Youth Development, will focus on priority areas in Zambaleswhich supports and promotes tri- and Olongapo City, Batangas, Cavite,sector collaboration. Laguna, Leyte, and the Autonomous

The three sectors-government, civil RginfrMsmMndao

society, and business-wererepresented during the launch of the

"It is the youth oftoday who will inherit LearningAcross Borders, a series offour workshops from January 2001

this country from us, and no matter how hard we work to June 2001, aims to improve the

to bring about peace and development today, knowledge, skills, and organizational

everything will go to naught if a significant po rtio n o fthe capacity of Japanese and other AsianPacific NGOs.

youth are unable to productively participate The workshops will help NGOs

in peace and development." effectively support national

- Pres. Gloria Macapagal-A rroyo development and poverty alleviationprocesses, particularly incollaboration with the World Bankand other donor agencies.

The second of the four workshops,Enhancing Skillsfor Operations, held

lc _ t 1 in Manila from February 26 to

March 2, 2001, built on the firstworkshop and provided participants

W -0 .^, IF!fT Sl5lY f b: with the opportunity to learn fromthe World Bank and see its

operations firsthand. Theparticipants also met local and

national NGOs which have formedeffective partnerships with the

Cooperation. The Portnership for the Out-School-Youth is o colloboration of three sectors-government, World Bank.civil society, ond business.

7

WB Publications

Global Global Economic

Development Prospects and the

Finance 2001 iJevelopingCountries 2001

May 2001

286 pages January 2001208 pages

This publication provides a comprehensive view of prospects Global Economic Prospecrs and developing countriesfrom the global economy along with the implications for the Developing Countries 2001 participate fully in theirdeveloping countries' external finance. It examines in detail recent discusses three issues that are formulation, and thatdevelopments and prospects for private and public global central to the challenges facing compliance is monitored.development finance. The complete print edition includes the developing countries as theyAnalysis and Summary Tables and Country Tables. Analysis and participate in the global trading The iofluence of technologacalSummary Tables offers expert commentary on prospects for system. enovatrons and whatglobal economic growth, private capital flows to developing electronac commerce meanscountries, and trends in net official finance. There are over 30 particularlyisomeooftthes developingeeconomies.cGlobalparticularly some of the developing economies. Globalsummary tables, which provide a statistical overview. Analysis poorest ones, have had little Economic Prospects offers anand Summary Tables may be purchased separately. Country success sharing in the in-depth analysis of theTables presents detailed data for 137 countries that report public expansion of global trade, economic prospects ofand publicly guaranteed debt under the World Bank Debtor because of both protectionist developing economies as theyReporting System. Internal debt stocks and flows, major economic policies and inappropriate enter the new millennium. Itaggregates, and debt restructuring are provided for 1970, 1980, macroeconomic and trade examines growth and1990, and 1993 through 1999. policies. prospects for poverty

In trade negotiations, the reduction in the developingFurther, this year's edition presents an overview of developments global economy faces the world and considers economicin capital flows in 1999 along with summary tables designed to critical governance issue of output, trade, and financialfacilitate cross-country comparisons of key debt statistics, and adequate standards for health developments in industrialtables on debt and resource flows for selected country groups. and safety, labor practices, economies.Global Development Finance 2001 is also available on a Windows- environmental protection, and This edition also includesbased CD-ROM, which contains data from both the Analysis intellectual property rights. It detailed statistical tables and anand Summary Tables and Country Tables and allows users to will be equally important to analysis of development for eachwork interactively with the data. The CD-ROM also provides ensure that the standards developing country region.content from the complete print edition in a searchable page are appropriate and format. nondiscriminatory, that the U U

To orderWorld Bank Group publications, contact: Or vis t our 24-hour online website at To borrow, contact:nternational Booksource Center Inc. www.worldbank.org/publications The Wor d Bank Group Country Off ce Mani aI 127-A Antipolo Street, Barangay Venezuela 23/FThe Ta pan Place, Emera d Ave.Makati City, Tel. (632) 896-650 / 6505 / 6507 Ortigas Center Pasig CityFax (632) 896-1 741

The World Bank Countrv Office Manila Oare23/F The Taipan Place StampInraJch0| Emerald Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City Here

InTouch is a quarterly newsletter of theWorld Bank Country Office Manila.

All correspondence may be addressed to:TheWorld Bank Country Office Manila

23/F,TheTaipan PlaceEmerald Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Tel. 637-5855 to 64

Editorial Staff Vinay K. Bhargava, editorial adviserLeonora A. Gonzales, editor

Charito C. Sanalila, production assistant