WB OKs $150-M RP loan

The World Bank approved a total of $150 million in loans for rural Philippines in the past two months.

A $50-million loan was issued for the Philippines Second Agrarian Reform Communities Development Project (ARCDP II), a project designed to reduce rural poverty and enhance the quality of life of the target agrarian reform communities (ARCs) by improving their productive assets, rural infrastructure and access to key support services.

The projects covers 80 ARCs including about 70,000 farm households.

Earlier, the Bank signed a loan agreement for the $100-million loan for the Kalahi Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) project.

The project hopes to strengthen the local communities‚ capacity to design, implement, and manage development activities, including basic infrastructure like roads and bridges, barangay schools and clinics, and water supply and sanitation facilities.

More than 5,300 barangays in 193 municipalities in 40 of the poorest provinces nationwide are expected to benefit from this project. These will be mostly in rural areas, where most poor Filipinos live. In addition to the immediate benefits to the communities, the investments are also expected to have a long term impact as the local communities are given the opportunities to participate in the development process.