Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 4 of 20 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment A. Economic Performance Assessment B. Poverty Assessment C. Assessment of Socio-Environmental Performance D. Governance: Sound Development Management E. Implementation Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies IV. Subregional Economic Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Philippines : I. Country Performance Assessment

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C. Assessment of Socio-Environmental Performance

1. Gender Issues

10. According to the 1999 Human Development Report, the Philippines ranked 65th out of 165 countries in the Gender-related Development Index (GDI).⁴ The Philippines ranked 45th out of 102 countries in the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM).⁵ This represents a sharp improvement in the GDI (from 82nd in 1998) and a marginal improvement in the GEM (from 46th in 1998). In general, in comparison with regional comparators, the Philippines ranks slightly better in gender empowerment than gender development.

11. In the Philippines, as elsewhere in Asia, women have to bear the burden of household survival. They hold the primary responsibility to feed the family, to care for children and the elderly. The impact of the drought and economic crisis, of rising food prices, cost of school supplies, and generally stagnating economy, has fallen squarely on the shoulders of women who must still put food on the table. To meet these needs, more women have entered the labor force to supplement household income. This is reflected in a steady 0.4 percent percentage point increase in the female labor force participation rate (LFPR) between January 1997 and January 2000 against a 1 percent decline in the male LFPR during the same period. Special women's issues in the Philippines include the impact of globalization on women workers and the need for skill improvement, protection of domestic and home workers, and access to contraceptives.

2. Human Development

12. According to the 1999 UN Human Development Report, the Philippines ranked 77th out of 174 countries in terms of human development, as measured by the Human Development Index (HDI), a significant improvement from 82nd in 1998. In comparison with regional comparators, however, the Philippines lags in terms of human development. The Philippine Human Development Report for 2000 indicates that provincial and regional HDIs have tended to follow the regional distribution of poverty, with parts of Mindanao recording HDIs on par with the poorest countries of Asia or Africa, highlighting the need to redress regional inequity. While key development indicators have improved over the past 10 years, there is scope for further advancement in life expectancy and health indicators such as infant birthweight, crude death rate, infant and maternal mortality, and access to sanitary facilities. Moreover, in the face of limited budgetary resources, rapid population growth has limited the expansion of basic services resulting in declining student?teacher ratios, increased dropouts in basic education and low achievement scores, trends that have been exacerbated by the crisis. An ADB study on the social impact of the crisis found lower enrolment rates and higher dropout rates in education. A study of the 1998 Annual Poverty Indicator Survey indicates that poor households adjusted to the shock of the Asian financial crisis and El Niño by changing eating patterns, working longer hours, and taking children out of school. Budgetary provisions for education and health after the crisis have been inadequate. This will slow improvement in the quality of basic education and reduce expansion of much needed primary health care services as well as reduce support for family planning, immunization, and feeding programs.

3. Environment

13. Environmental degradation, with its impact on health and economic growth continues to be a major challenge. All major environmental concerns (e.g., urban water and air pollution, degradation of forests and watersheds, and deterioration of marine and coastal resources) are exacerbated by the high growth rate of population. To address these environmental concerns and to meet its international commitment to sustainable development, the Government adopted in September 1996 the Philippine Agenda 21, as its national action plan to further integrate environmental considerations into decision making for social and economic development. Despite the economic difficulties caused by the crisis, the Government is placing emphasis on addressing environmental issues of immediate concern, such as air quality improvement and better environmental management of the Pasig River system. The Government, together with NGOs and academe, has also initiated a strengthened strategy and action plan supported by ADB and other donors, to improve the country’s capacity to implement the recommendations of the Convention of Biological Diversity.

14. It is increasingly recognized that to address its environmental problems, the country needs not only increased financial investment for environment rehabilitation and improvement but also far-ranging policy reforms and enforcement measures. The major issues to be addressed include:

1. further improving the legal framework for environmental management;
2. strengthening the institutional structure both at the national and local levels for environmental planning, management and enforcement;
3. strengthening capacity for environmental monitoring and enforcement;
4. introducing more market-based instruments for environmental management;
5. undertaking environmental awareness and education programs;
6. introducing demand management techniques for services such as electricity and water supply; and
7. refining and expanding the use of "polluter pays” principle.

ADB has been actively involved in policy dialogue on the reform initiatives in these areas and in addressing the country’s environmental issues.

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