29 September 2009
 ADB Pledges $3 Million Grant for Philippine Flood Victims
The ADB has pledged a $3 million grant for emergency relief efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Ondoy (international code name Ketsana), which inundated parts of Luzon in late September, causing the worst flooding in Metro Manila in over 40 years. The grant was provided under ADB's emergency facility, the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which provides quick-disbursing grants to assist the Government in meeting immediate expenses to restoring life-saving services to affected populations (e.g. purchase of water purification and sanitation systems, transitional shelter, personal hygiene kits, emergency communication equipment, and site clearance). Read the news release and see video* interview with Neeraj Jain, ADB Philippine Country Director.
28 September 2009
ADB President Offers Condolences and Assistance to Philippine Flood Victims
ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda has expressed his deepest sympathies and condolences to the government and people of the Philippines, particularly families who have lost their loved ones in the wake of a tropical storm that flooded vast areas of the Northern Philippines and forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands. Read the news release.
26 September 2009
Switch to Energy-Efficient Lights Launched
 Around 2,000 poor households in Manila's Tondo district have received free energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in exchange for their incandescent bulbs, marking the start of a nationwide campaign to save on fuel costs and mitigate climate change. Under the "Switch to CFL" program – the first of its kind in Asia – 13 million CFLs will be distributed nationwide in the coming months, as part of a larger drive to make the Philippines incandescent bulb-free by 2010. The launching was attended by (from left) Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes President Gloria Macapacal Arroyo, and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. ADB was represented by Neeraj Jain, Country Director, ADB Philippine Country Office and Sohail Hasnie, ADB Senior Energy Specialist. Read the news release and watch the video*.
23 September
 1st Philippine ODA Communicators Network Forum Held
The Philippine Country Office hosted on 23 September the first meeting of 26 development communicators to share best practices and improve networking. ADB Philippine Country Director Neeraj Jain and National Economic and Development Authority Deputy Director General Rolly Tungpalan (center) led participants who represented the 16 development agencies.
22 September
ADB Sees Modest Economic Recovery for Philippines in 2009-2010
 The Asian Development Outlook Update was launched at a press conference given by Neeraj Jain, ADB Philippine Country Director and Assistant Chief Economist Joseph Ernest Zveglich Jr. (second and third from right, respectively), The report said economic activity in the Philippines will pick up in the second half of 2009, and reach modest growth rates in 2010. The economy will expand by 2.2% in the second half of the year, up from a lower-than-expected 1% in the first half of 2009. The report projects full year growth in 2009 at 1.6%, slightly below the ADB's March projection of 2.5%, rising to 3.3% in 2010. Read the news release.
15 September 2009
ADB Loan to Help Philippines Improve Fiscal Strength, Investment Climate
The ADB is extending a $250 million loan to restore the Philippines to a long-term sustainable growth path through greater fiscal discipline and an improved investment climate.
The ADB's Board of Directors approved the Development Policy Support Program (DPSP) Subprogram 3 to help the country achieve higher investment inflows by improving its macroeconomic and fiscal management, strengthening public financial management, reducing corruption and transaction costs of doing business, and scaling up its social safety net programs. Read the news release.
4 September
 ADB President Meets Ilocos Norte Governor
Ilocos Norte Governor Michael M. Keon gave a courtesy call on ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda during his visit to ADB. Governor Keon also met with Neeraj Jain, ADB Philippine Country Director and project specialists.
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Regions and Countries 
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