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 ADB Philippine fisheries project CD launch
The ADB-funded fisheries resource management project launched on 21 December at the ADB Auditorium the music CD "Awit ng Magdaragat" (Song of the Fisherman) as part of its public awareness campaign to conserve and protect Philippine fisheries and marine resources. Filipino musician and environmental advocate Joey Ayala crafted the music focusing on fisherfolk issues and concerns. The sea as sacred, finiteness of resources, the wonders of the undersea world and endangered species are among the many themes captured in the CD.
 Partnering Cities for Clean Air
Tom Crouch, ADB Country Director for the Philippines; Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, chairman of the League of Cities; and Daniel Moore, chief of the Office of Energy and Environment of the United States Agency for International Development, cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the opening on 15 December 2005 of a poster exhibit on best practices in air quality management as part of the conference on "Partnering Cities for Clean Air" at the ADB headquarters. The conference sought to promote cooperation among local governments to improve the quality of air in towns and cities and was attended by mayors and representatives of non-government organizations engaged in environmental protection and conservation.
$150 Million Loan to Support Microfinance Development in the Philippines
ADB is lending US$150 million to help reduce poverty in the Philippines by improving access of the poor to financial services. The Microfinance Development Program will support the Government's program for expansion of a sound microfinance sector that will encourage private-sector participation in the delivery of microfinancial services, address systemic weaknesses, and promote access to sustainable, competitively priced financial services for the poor and their microenterprises.
Read the news release.
Philippine Projects Outreach
With Executive Director Marita Magpili-Jimenez, a group of mayors and other local officials met on 6 December with ADB staff to discuss issues associated with implementing the Infrastructure for Rural Productivity Enhancement Sector (INFRES) Project. Discussion focused on ways to accelerate implementation, especially by facilitating local governments' ability to raise their equity contributions for the subprojects.
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 ADB President at International Conference on Judicial Reforms
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and Russian Federation Chief Justice Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Lebedev pose at the plenary session of the three-day International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms organized by the Supreme Court of the Philippines held on 29 November 2005. In his speech, Mr. Kuroda cited the need for good governance in Asian economies to attract investors to the region.
Read the news
release and view the photo essay.
 Launching of "On Balance"
Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. opens the coffeetablebook "On Balance" at its book launch at the recently-held International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms. The book chronicles the milestones of Philippine judicial reform, the balance of values, interest, and the various points of power in society and government. It was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and published by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC). From left are Dr. Rogelio Cuyno, President, AIJC; Chief Justice Davide; Arthur Mitchell, ADB General Counsel; and Florangel Braid, AIJC Trustee and Senior Adviser.
 Philippine Vice President attends STEP UP 3rd Anniversary
Philippine Vice President Noli De Castro cited the achievements of the STEP-UP or the Strategic Private Sector Partnerships for Urban Poverty Reduction program and expressed his gratitude to the ADB for making possible the implementation of the program during the 3rd anniversary celebration of the project on 21 November 2005 . He also thanked the partner organizations of the STEP-UP program and the local government executives who actively worked to make the program's framework a success.
 ADB Grant to Help Tricycle Drivers in Puerto Princesa City
Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Ms.Yue-Lang Feng, ADB Principal Environment Specialist, pose with heads of the city's tricycle operators and drivers association during the launch on 18 November 2005 of the $240,000 ADB grant to reduce air pollution and provide alternative livelihood to tricycle drivers.
Read the news release.
 ADB Governor for Switzerland Visits Urban Poor Projects
Governor Oscar Knapp and Alternate Executive Director Niklaus Zingg met beneficiaries of the Development of Poor Urban Communities project on 16 November 2005 in Angeles City. They also visited an urban development project in Caloocan City and had a briefing on the PSOD-assisted North Luzon Expressway.
 ADB Execs Laud NLEX Operations
ADB officials toured on 16 November 2005 the North Luzon Expressway and expressed satisfaction over how the Manila North Tollways Corp. is managing the P18-billion facility. The ADB provided $45 million in direct financing for the project, plus another $25 million in a co-financing arrangement. Among the bank officials who visited were ADB Governor for Switzerland Oscar Knapp (first row, third from right), Tom Crouch, Country Director , ADB Philippine Country Office (second row, third from left), and Richard Ondrik, ADB Senior Project implementation Specialist (second row, first from right). Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Lise Favre (first row, fourth from right) also visited the site as part of the group.
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