devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
South Commuter Railway Project - Tranche 1 The project will support the construction of the 54.6-kilometer (km) Blumentritt-Calamba section of the North-South Commuter Railway connecting Metro Manila and Calamba, located in Laguna Province around 50 km south of Manila. The Project will provide improved connectivity in the public transport network by connecting with all existing LRT/MRT-lines in Metro Manila. It includes a connecting line to the planned Metro Manila Subway, which will improve connectivity by operating direct trains for passengers travelling from Calamba to Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas and Quezon City along the Metro Manila Subway. The new railway line will provide affordable, reliable and safe public transport, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut the journey time by half to less than one hour. The project will be cofinanced by Japan International Cooperation Agency. The government is also constructing the 37 km Tutuban-Malolos section and the 53.1 km Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MFF Facility Concept 0106-PHI). It is also planned to further extend the project toward the north by 18 km to connect the New Clark City to Clark.
Secondary Education Support Program The program will support the implementation of system-wide secondary education reforms in the Philippines during 2019 to 2023.  It is part of the Asian Development Bank's support to the government's Kindergarten to grade 12 Basic Education program.  The program builds on and complements ADB's ongoing Senior High School Support Program, which contributes to the implementation of an effective senior high school system in the country.  The program will improve secondary level student learning outcomes and completion rates by (I) improving the quality and relevance of the secondary education program, (ii) improving the quality of secondary school teachers, and (iii) strengthening secondary education sector management.
COVID-19: Second Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVID-19 under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility The proposed loan to the Republic of the Philippines for the Second Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVID-19 under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (HEAL 2). Under the rapid response component (RRC) of the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX), will provide the Government of the Philippines with timely financing for safe and effective vaccine procurement and logistics, based on an agreed list of eligible expenditures. It will supplement the initial support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response under the Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVID-19 (HEAL) project. HEAL 2 is aligned with three operational priorities of ADB's Strategy 2030: (i) addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities; (ii) accelerating progress in gender equality; and (iii) fostering regional cooperation and integration.

The Philippines has met all APVAX access criteria by (i) demonstrating the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; (ii) completing a needs assessment and a vaccination allocation and prioritization plan, including an incremental medical waste management plan and procurement arrangements acceptable to ADB, with ADB's receipt of a Governor's letter confirming its commitment to implement the plan and ensure compliance with the APVAX vaccine eligibility criteria; and (iii) establishing an effective development partner coordination mechanism with a clear role for ADB
Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) Project under Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund The project provides $3 million grant under the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF) as emergency assistance to the Philippine Government in response to its appeal to the international community to provide humanitarian relief assistance, in the aftermath caused by Typhoon Ketsana (locally named Ondoy) that hit the main island of Luzon on 26 September 2009, bringing the heaviest rainfall in the country in the last 40 years. Eight regions, including the National Capital Region were declared disaster areas, including Metro Manila and 25 provinces.  The National Disaster Coordination Council (NDCC) estimates that as of 29 September 2009, 319,881 families or 1,872,036 persons have been directly affected. Estimated damages are approximately $48.8 million, including damages to infrastructure and agriculture. The number of damaged houses is currently stated as 3,272, of which 2,223 were totally destroyed. The damage caused by the disaster is significantly beyond the capacity of the Philippine Government and its own agencies to provide the affected population with the necessary basic goods and services. The need for rapid support and immediate financial assistance from ADB would help alleviate current fiscal constraints faced by the Government.
Local Government Financing and Budget Reform Program Cluster (Subprogram 1) Given  the  many  issues  facing  the  Philippine  LGU (Local Government Unit)  sector,  a  focused  and  consolidated  program  is  required  to  respond  to  them.  The  Program  must  first  help  ensure  the  availability  of  resources.  The  LGFBR (Local Government Financing and Budget Reform)  Program  (i)  facilitates  an  augmented,  dependable,  and  timely  flow  of  resources  that  the  LGUs  are  legally  entitled  to  as  well  as  facilitating  other  means  of  financing  through public and private channels; (ii) facilitates local revenue generation; (iii) addresses the capacity  development  needs  of  LGUs  in  planning,  expenditure  management,  and  efficient  procurement  for  better  service  delivery;  and  (iv)  improves  monitoring  systems  by  making  the  financial  and  service  delivery  performance  of  LGUs  more  transparent.
Governance in Justice Sector Reform Program - Subprogram 2 The GJSRP was designed to address weaknesses in the judiciary and justice sector institutions that arise due in large part to inadequate resources—a situation exacerbated by weak financial management. The impact of subprogram 2 will be greater public trust and confidence in the justice system. The outcome will be a more efficient justice sector.
Tiwi and MakBan Geothermal Power Green Bonds Project ADB provided a project loan in pesos and a credit enhancement (in the form of a partial credit guarantee in pesos) to support the issuance of the Philippines'' first peso-denominated green project bond. The project involves AP Renewables Inc.'s (APRI) refinancing of capital expenditure (including acquisition and plant rehabilitation) and ongoing operations and maintenance at Tiwi and Makiling- Banahaw (Tiwi-MakBan), the 7th and 4th largest geothermal facilities in the world at two locations on Luzon. The sponsor (Aboitiz Power Corporation, APC) acquired the Tiwi-MakBan complexes from the government in 2009, and invested in plant rehabilitation to improve availability and extend operating life.

The Tiwi complex is located in the province of Albay, about 569 kilometers south of Metro Manila. With a combined nameplate capacity of 234 MW, Tiwi consists of three power plants with two generating units each. The units were commissioned between 1979 and 1982. The MakBan complex is located about 70 kilometers southeast of Metro Manila on the boundary of Laguna and Batangas provinces. With a combined nameplate capacity of 442 MW, MakBan consists of five power plants with a total of 10 generating units. The units were commissioned between 1979 and 1996.

APRI is a wholly owned subsidiary of APC, a leading developer and operator of power generation and distribution assets in the Philippines.
Inclusive Finance Development Program Subprogram 3 The program is part of a long-term partnership between the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of the Philippines to increase financial inclusion by (i) strengthening the institutional and policy environment, (ii) improving financial infrastructure, and (iii) increasing the capacity and reach of financial service providers. Under subprogram 3, the government will build on achievements under subprograms 1 and 2 by implementing key reforms, including (i) supporting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) recovery efforts by leveraging the national identity system to expand financial inclusion; (ii) expanding the digital payment ecosystem; (iii) increasing the capacity of financial service providers through digital transformation; (iv) reducing inequalities in women’s access to finance and promoting women’s economic empowerment; and (v) implementing financial enhancements to respond to the impact of climate change, particularly for the country’s most vulnerable populations.
Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project The Project will secure raw water supply to the 13 million inhabitants of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) service area, through the rehabilitation of the Angat transmission line. It is estimated that currently each day about 800,000 cubic meter (m3) or 20% of the total potential capacity of raw water is lost  due to leakage of the aqueducts.  The main components of the Angat transmission line are as old as 50 years, in poor condition, and not in compliance with structural and seismic requirements, risking the partial interruption of Metro Manila's water supply. The proposed financing modality is a Project loan.
Local Governance Reform Program (Subprogram 2) The program aims to strengthen the capacities of local government units (LGUs) to deliver high-quality public services. It builds upon the government’s local governance reform priorities to (i) strengthen the local governance framework, (ii) modernize and professionalize subnational public financial management (PFM), and (iii) improve the LGU financing and investment framework.
Competitive and Inclusive Agriculture Development Program (Subprogram 2) The program aims to increase the competitiveness and inclusiveness of the agriculture sector by (i) implementing agricultural trade policy and regulatory reforms, (ii) enhancing public services and finance for the sector, and (iii) increasing social protection to rural families who may be affected by the reforms.
Development Policy Support Program, Subprogram 2 The subprogram 2 for 2008 builds on erforms initiated under subprogram 1 for fiscal consolidation and strengthening of governance in PEM and procurement.
Expanding Private Participation in Infrastructure Program, Subprogram 2 The program supports the government's main reform priorities to promote, develop and efficiently implement PPP projects through (i) strengthening government financial support to PPPs, (ii) expanding and efficiently implementing the pipeline of PPP projects, and (iii) strengthening the legal and regulatory frameworks for PPPs. 

Subprogram 2 now focuses on consolidating PPP reforms to stimulate and facilitate the development of the Philippines' PPP market and to ensure the earlier reforms are successfully implemented. The inclusion of a post-program partnership framework (P3F), 2018-2022 continues ADB's engagement utilizing TA resources.
Development Policy Support Program - Subprogram 3 The subprogram 3 of the Development Policy Support Program (DPSP) is the third loan of a program cluster and builds on support initiated under subprogram 2, approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in September 2008. The loan is to be provided as a single tranche, based on completed prior actions demonstrating satisfactory progress. Subprogram 3 builds on reforms initiated under subprogram 2 for fiscal consolidation and strengthening of governance in public financial management and procurement. It also increases the focus on institutionalizing governance programs within agencies to ensure their longer-term sustainability and effective enforcement, strengthening the investment climate, and carrying out social assistance programs. Responding to the global financial crisis, subprogram 3 also includes a series of policy measures to address the increased vulnerabilities and risks to the Philippine economy from the global financial crisis and the impacts on poverty.
150-Megawatt Burgos Wind Farm Project The Project involves the construction and operation of a 150 MW wind farm project in the province of Ilocos Norte, in the municipality of Burgos. The wind farm will cover an area of approximately 686 hectares across 3 barangays (Saoit, Poblacion and Nagsurot). 

The Project is developed under the Renewable Energy (RE) Law and therefore entitled to priority connection to the transmission and distribution system, priority purchase and transmission of, and payment for, electricity sold through the Luzon grid. It may be eligible for a fixed tariff under the governments Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) system. The Project will be built in 2 phases.  The components of Phase 1 are (i) the installation of 29 wind turbine generators (WTGs) from Vestas with a generation capacity of 87 MW, (ii) the construction of a wind farm substation; and (iii) the construction of an approximately 42 km long transmission line while Phase 2 consist of the installation of an additional 21 WTGs from Vestas with a generation capacity of 63 MW.   Construction for both phases have been completed.
Multitranche Financing Facility (MFF) - Malolos-Clark Railway Project-Tranche 1 The project will support the construction of two sections, totaling 53.1 kilometers (km), of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), a 163 km suburban railway network connecting the regional center of Clark in Central Luzon with Metro Manila and Calamba, Laguna. The Malolos-Clark Railway Project comprises: (i) Malolos-Clark section (51.2 km) from Malolos to Clark and Clark International Airport, and (ii) Blumentritt extension (1.9 km) connecting Solis and Blumentritt stations in Metro Manila District I (City of Manila). Both sections are part of the NSCR and extensions of the Tutuban-Solis-Malolos section financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The NSCR will be completed during 2022-2025 as an integrated 163 km dedicated suburban passenger railway system comprising four sections: (i) Tutuban-Solis-Malolos, (ii) Malolos-Clark-Clark International Airport, (iii) Solis-Blumentritt-Calamba, and (iv) Clark-New Clark City. The project will provide affordable, reliable, and safe public transport; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to cutting travel time from Metro Manila to Clark from 2-3 hours (by bus) to less than 1 hour by rail.
COVID-19: Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVID-19 As part of the comprehensive support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Government of the Philippines in responding to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), HEAL will assist the Department of Health (DOH) in scaling up public health capacity to manage the pandemic.
Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (Additional Financing) The additional financing of Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility Project (IPIF) will extend the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the Government of the Philippines under the current project to meet the government's accelerated infrastructure development objectives. The additional financing, together with the current project, will support project preparation and improve the infrastructure project management capacity of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The project will build on the current project to (i) improve the quality of priority infrastructure project proposals for approval by the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); (ii) accelerate early project implementation following ICC approval through detailed engineering design (DED) and tendering support, with a focus on complex and large projects requiring international expertise; and (iii) strengthen the government's capacity to implement projects under the DOTr and DPWH.
CARD Promoting Access to Finance for Low-Income Microborrowers Project A proposed senior unsecured loan in Philippine peso equivalent of up to $10,000,000 to the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, Inc. (CARD) for the Promoting Access to Finance for Low-Income Microborrowers Project in the Philippines. ADB's funding to CARD is to help increase access to finance of low-income women and extreme poor microborrowers in the Philippines.
COVID-19: Emergency Response The proposed activities - largely emergency medical supplies and other initial support required for dealing with the crisis - to be financed by the requested Asia Pacific Disaster
Response Fund (APDRF) align with WHO's Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-195 which the Philippine government has also adopted, and the Philippines' National
Contingency Plan for COVID-19 which the government is now finalizing. Specifically, one of the plan's response strategy emphasizes scaling up country readiness and response operations by strengthening national capacity for detection, equipping and training national rapid-response teams, infection prevention and control among health workers, and ensuring case management and continuity of essential health services, among others.
Given the urgency of the required support and the government?s constrained human resources, the Department of Finance has requested ADB to facilitate procurement of the required medical supplies and equipment. ADB will use the most flexible and expeditious procurement approaches, including those specified in the Implementation Guidelines for the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Facility and consistent with paras. 16-17 of Operations Manual Section D7/OP for disaster and emergency assistance. The grant agreement will reflect the specific arrangements. To alleviate the government's immediate financial, logistic, and other constraints to meet these immediate needs and deliver appropriate medical services where required.
Supporting Innovation in the Philippine Technical and Vocational Education and Training System Project The project will support modernizing the Philippine technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system, so that it can respond effectively to an increasingly globalized, technology- and knowledge-driven market. It will improve the quality of skilling programs, upgrade training facilities and equipment, and build the capacity of trainers to impart the higher-level skills and competencies demanded by the job market. The project will help the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Philippine TVET agency, to undertake institutional reforms and forge stronger engagement between public TVET institutions and industry, thereby enhancing the employability of Filipino youth and workers. It will also support the government's National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) to help the economy bounce back from the adverse effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Market Transformation through Introduction of Energy-Efficient Electric Vehicles Project The project will replace gasoline tricycles (motorcycles with a passenger sidecar) with three wheel plug-in electric vehicles running on an electric motor and rechargeable battery (e-trikes). The project will initiate a transformation of the tricycle subsector by: (i) improving the livelihoods of tricycle drivers through higher incomes and a better work environment; (ii) generating global environmental benefits and reducing the carbon footprint of the tricycle industry through the introduction of low-carbon e-trike technology; and (iii) leveraging private sector participation in the e-trike market.
Social Protection Support Project (Additional Financing) The proposed additional financing will finance cash grants under the program’s nationwide expansion, which as of 2014 includes high school students aged 15–18 years old.
VISAYAS BASE-LOAD POWER PROJECT The Project involves construction and operation of a 200- megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Naga City, Cebu, in the Visayas region. The plant is needed to address the power shortage in the region, and will adopt a more environment-friendly technology by using circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustion boilers. It will provide base-load power to the grid. CFB is the next best solution to using pulverized coal technology. Supercritical technology cannot be used for a 200 MW plant.
Build Universal Health Care Program (Subprogram 1) The Government of the Philippines enacted the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act on 20 February 2019 to ensure equitable access to quality health services for all Filipinos with financial protection. The UHC Act envisioned the implementation of a series of reforms over at least 6 years and the proposed program will support the implementation of these health financing, service delivery, and performance monitoring reforms needed to achieve UHC. It is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan, 2017-2022; the country partnership strategy, 2018-2023 of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); and ADB's Strategy 2030. The programmatic approach will provide long-term support to improve the sequencing and implementation of UHC policy reforms and harmonize national and local-level reforms.
Inclusive Finance Development Program (Subprogram 1) The proposed program complements coordinated support by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop a resilient and inclusive finance sector. The program supports the government’s efforts to increase financial inclusion by (i) strengthening the institutional and policy environment, (ii) improving the financial infrastructure, and (iii) increasing the capacity and reach of service providers. The program is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), 2017–20221 and is included in ADB’s country operations business plan, 2018–2020.
Encouraging Investment through Capital Market Reforms Program (Subprogram 1) The program will supplement coordinated support provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to accelerate investment, including infrastructure through public–private partnerships (PPPs), by increasing the availability of long-term finance to fund these ventures. The program will apply sequenced reforms to (i) develop the government bond market as a precursor to further developing the corporate and/or project bond market, (ii) encourage growth in domestic long-term savings, and (iii) ease barriers to entry to diversify and broaden available sources of long-term finance.
Increasing Competitiveness for Inclusive Growth Program (Subprogram 2) The program supports the government's key reform priorities aimed at employment generation by increasing competitiveness in the economy with an inclusive approach through the labor market. The structural reform priorities include efforts to enhance the business climate by promoting competition policy, regulatory efficiency, competitive logistics, and private sector participation in infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships (PPPs). The program also supports the government in promoting competitive labor markets by piloting a youth employment program to empower young people to find decent jobs (known as JobStart Philippines) and a tourism-industry-led skills and services development program, and through longer-term labor policy reforms.