Philippine Credit Policy and Microfinance Institutions: Some Lessons from the Latin American Experience

A liberalized and deregulated financial market environment as well as good governance are better ingredients than government-subsidized and directed credit programs in ensuring that low-income people gain access to basic financial services. This is one of the major lessons that the Philippines can learn from the credit policy experiences of Latin American countries.microfinance

Developing the Policy and Regulatory Architecture for Microfinance in the Philippines

What led to the dynamic growth of the microfinance market in the Philippines? According to Dr. Gilberto Llanto in this Policy Notes, the microfinance market in the country owes its rapid development to a large extent to the emerging policy environment and regulatory framework crafted by the government. Said progress in developing the policy and regulatory architecture for microfinance is discussed in this Notes in greater detail.microfinance, microfinance regulation, microfinance market

Managing Government Guarantees and Contingent Liabilities

In order to encourage private sector participation in infrastructure development, the government provided guarantees to a number of infrastructure projects covering a wide variety of project-specific and general risks. In bearing such risks, however, the government invariably becomes exposed to contingent claims that can be triggered by certain events. Can something be done therefore to deal with this? This Policy Notes addresses this concern as it draws an outline of a risk management approach that deals with expected and unexpected losses from contingent liabilities.public debt, government guarantee

Reviewing the Philippines' Spectrum Management Policy

In light of the latest developments in information and communication technology such as the advent of the 3G technology, it is important that the issuance of licenses to companies that may be assigned specific uses or allocations of frequency bands in a spectrum range be made in the most efficient and transparent manner. This Policy Notes examines alternative modes of allocation and assesses their implications and usefulness to the Philippine ICT market situation.telecommunications, information and communications technology (ICT), spectrum management, spectrum management policy, 3G technology

Make 'Deliberate' Haste in Rolling Out the 4Ps

With the Philippine government all set to roll out its own version of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program called "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" or the 4Ps in all its target areas, this Notes raises outstanding issues that may inform policy decisions on its program design and implementation.targeting, poor households, conditional cash transfer (CCT) program

Protecting the Vulnerable through Social Health Insurance: PhilHealth's KASAPI as a Strategy

To help ease the burden of medical expenses on the part of lower-income households during times of illness and emergencies, the Philippine government, through the PhilHealth, launched the KASAPI program that aims to reach the poorer population in the informal sector and provide them with social health insurance. How effective has the program been? This Policy Notes looks into the design features of the program and identifies areas for possible improvement.health insurance, National Health Insurance Program, social health insurance, Philippine Health Corporation (PhilHealth)

A Competition Policy and Efficient Regulatory Framework for the Port Sector: Getting It Unberthed

The Philippines, with its archipelagic physical character, requires an efficient maritime transport infrastructure to facilitate and foster growth and socioeconomic integration. Given the inefficiencies existing in its maritime transport system, though, it is deemed important to have in place a competition policy and an efficient regulatory framework for the port sector. This Policy Notes discusses more on this...competition policy, regulatory framework, maritime transport, ports and inter-island shipping, landlord port model

The Regulation of Deposit-Taking Cooperatives

Through RA 6839, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) has been created to promote, develop and regulate cooperatives. As mandated by the government, it discharges its developmental role and regulatory functions. However, it focuses more on the former causing the neglect of monitoring the financial health of thousands of cooperatives. This issue offers various ways with which CDA can deal with two different and inconsistent responsibilities. It also cites various measures to reinforce the market.regulation and control, deposit-taking cooperatives, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)

Investing in Local Roads for better Mobility of People, Goods, and Services

Quality local road networks are critical components needed in facilitating trade and movement of people and services. Constraints, however, are present in the task to build these networks. How has the government, both at the national and local levels, faced such constraints and barriers? What are the challenges that face them? This Note looks into these concerns.infrastructure, Philippines, road network, logistics, transport, local roads

Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in Local Governments

The Philippines` geographical location makes it a disaster-prone country. In the Southeast Asian region, it ranks the highest in terms of the multiple climate hazard index measure. Given that the country`s local communities take the brunt of the effects of disasters, this Policy Note offers suggestions for local governments in building their local capacity in disaster risk reduction and management.Philippines, natural disasters, survey, Rosario, Batangas, disaster risk reduction, disaster risk management, local governments