The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved funding for two critical government projects aimed at enhancing safety, resilience, and economic recovery in the Philippines.
Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools Project:
The World Bank will provide EUR 466.07 million (USD 500 million) to support the resilient recovery of disaster-affected schools in selected regions of the country.
Resilient recovery involves strengthening schools’ capacity to continue functioning after natural disasters.
The project will finance repair, rehabilitation, retrofitting, reconstruction, and site improvements for schools severely impacted by earthquakes and tropical cyclones.
Over 700,000 students, including girls, will benefit from improved physical learning environments.
“By enhancing the resilience of educational facilities, we can minimize disruptions caused by natural disasters, ensuring that children can continue their education with fewer interruptions,” emphasized Fernando Ramirez Cortes, World Bank Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist.
The project will finance the repair, rehabilitation, retrofitting, reconstruction and site improvements of schools that were severely affected by earthquakes and tropical cyclones in recent years.
The interventions will enhance physical learning environments for over 700,000 students, with girls making up half of the beneficiaries.
“By strengthening the resilience of educational facilities, disruptions to learning caused by natural disasters can be minimized, ensuring that children can continue their education with fewer interruptions,” Fernando Ramirez Cortes, World Bank Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, said.
The project will prioritize areas where school infrastructure damage and risk are greatest, including the Cordillera Administrative Region, Caraga, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao Region and Soccsksargen.
The project will also support the improvement of the Department of Education's (DepEd) operations and maintenance manual and tools, ensuring that both central and local level education authorities have up-to-date protocols and information for operating and maintaining restored school infrastructure.
This will enable effective management and maintenance of the infrastructure following disasters.
The World Bank also approved the EUR 699.105 million (USD 750 million) “Philippines Second Sustainable Recovery Development Policy Loan” to support reforms that increase investment in public service sectors, attract private investment in public infrastructure, particularly in domestic shipping, promote renewable energy, protect the environment, and improve climate resilience.
“The Philippine economy remains resilient in the face of ongoing global and domestic challenges. The reforms supported by this lending program, if implemented, will encourage private investment, innovation, and sustained growth,” said Ralph Van Doorn, World Bank Senior Economist.
“Through these reforms, the Philippines can transition faster to a greener economy and achieve its environmental and climate objectives.”
Given the Philippines' archipelagic nature, marine transport is critical for trade and connecting its numerous islands and destinations, enabling efficient movement of goods and products.
Van Doorn said that attracting more local and foreign investments in domestic shipping can boost the country's competitiveness.
The lending program also supports reforms that aim to enhance plastic waste reduction, recovery, and recycling; promote green transportation; and encourage the production and consumption of environment friendly goods and services through public procurement.
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