Tourism Key Players Pilot Test Tourism Loop

Key players in the tourism industry are test-piloting the Cebu-Bohol-Camiguin-Cagayan de Oro Tourism Loop, all of which benefit from access to the Mactan International Airport in Cebu. The Tourism Loop is part of the Bohol Tourism Action Plan, which includes such partners as USAID and the German development agency, GIZ. Tourism is a high-growth priority under the Partnership For Growth, and through this initiative communities can see significant local economic impact through higher spending and longer length of stay by visitors.

USAID/Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele (center, first row) with Bohol government officials and stakeholders led by Bohol Representative Rene L. Relampagos (First District) and Bohol Governor Edgar M. Chatto during the launch of the Bohol Tourism Action Plan on July 26, 2012.

President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address Highlights Development Achievements

On July 23, 2012, President Benigno Aquino III delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA)
at a joint session of the Philippine Congress, reporting on his administration’s achievements on the
economy, education, land reform and defense, and citing the success of his crusade against corruption.
The Philippines’ GDP grew by 6.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 – the highest growth in the
Southeast Asian region, and second only to China in all of Asia. The 2012 SONA Technical Report
makes reference to accomplishments in PFG-related areas.

The goal of the PFG is to assist the Philippines achieve higher, sustained and more inclusive growth.

U.S. Treasury Assistance for Centralized Payroll

U.S. Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technical Assistance Larry McDonald visited the Philippines on July 10-11 to help launch the budget advisor's engagement and explore other possible Treasury technical assistance. The budget advisor will work for a two-year period with officials and staff of the Philippine Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management on implementation of the National Payroll System. The initiative will support development of a government-wide payroll and personnel management system to standardize processes and disburse salaries directly from the Treasury to employee accounts. The system will facilitate improved budget execution through enhanced cash forecasting and cost reductions in payroll administration.  Additionally, intermittent advisors are available to assist the Philippine government in the areas of purchase cards and rationalization of pensions, with a two-week assistance mission on pensions completed in August. Treasury's technical assistance supports Partnership for Growth efforts to improve expenditure management.

Court of Appeals Expands Automated Case Management System

USAID and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative have been working with the Philippine
Court of Appeals to expand its automated case management information system (CMIS), and to help the
court reach its “zero backlog” goal by this year. Before CMIS was created, litigants waited many years for
decisions by the Court. During the past two years under CMIS, rulings are promulgated within the one-
year time period required by the Constitution. The Court of Appeals handles 90% of all appealed cases,
including disputes from quasi-judicial agencies such as the Intellectual Property Office and the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

USAID Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg witnesses how the kiosk station of the CMIS allows
the public to view actual dockets and decisions
of the Philippine Court of Appeals

USAID Launches Cities Development Initiative in Mindanao

As part of its continuing thrust to enable cities to become engines of broad-based and inclusive economic
growth, U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. and USAID Mission Director Gloria D. Steele launched
the Cities Development Initiative (CDI) in Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao. In attendance
were national and local government officials, the private sector and civil society groups. Cagayan de
Oro is the third city (along with Batangas and Iloilo) selected by USAID for its innovative approach to
programming in support of the U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Growth. The CDI will help unlock and
maximize the city’s growth potential through significant collaboration in areas such as higher education,
energy, environment, health systems, and economic growth and investment.

U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. (extreme right) and USAID Mission Director Gloria D. Steele (2nd from left) launched the Cities Development Initiative in Cagayan de Oro City with government officials led by Mayor Vicente Emano (2nd from right) on June 29. Also present was Department of Trade and Industry Zenaida Maglaya (extreme left).

FTC Provides Technical Assistance Mission on Consumer Protection

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provided technical assistance on best practices for consumer
protection, awareness and education with stakeholders on June 25-28. Participants included Philippine
government officials, industry groups, consumer associations, and NGOs. The workshop series focused
on strengthening capacities for consumer protection in areas such as advertising, consumer credit
reporting, and data privacy. Additionally, the workshop gave an opportunity for collaboration with the
Philippine Department of Trade and Industry's Consumer Protection Bureau. This activity directly
supports the Partnership For Growth’s efforts to enhance the competition environment in the Philippines.

President Aquino’s Working Visit to the U.S. Highlights the PFG

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on June 8 to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship. According to a White House statement, the leaders underscored the “significant contributions our people have made to each other‘s security, prosperity and culture.” Both leaders pledged their continuing commitment to the Partnership for Growth (PFG), a “catalyzing joint effort to promote anti-corruption and rule of law, improved fiscal performance and regulatory quality and inclusive fiscal growth.” President Obama thanked President Aquino for the visit, which reinforced the friendship between the two countries. President Aquino thanked President Obama for the U.S. government’s support to help transform Philippine society. Both leaders acknowledged the importance of a strong economic relationship and committed to bolster and deepen efforts to expand bilateral trade and promote greater economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region.

President Obama and President Aquino during the Bilateral Meeting on June 8, 2012. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Alberto Del Rosario also attended.

Welcome!

Welcome to Partnership for Growth!

Partnership for Growth (PFG) is a partnership between the United States and a select group of countries to accelerate and sustain broad-based economic growth by putting into practice the principles of President Obama’s September 2010 Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development. It involves rigorous joint analysis of constraints to growth, the development of joint action plans to address these constraints, and high-level mutual accountability for implementation. One of PFG’s signature objectives is to engage governments, the private sector and civil society with a broad range of tools to unlock new sources of investment, including domestic resources and foreign direct investment. By improving coordination, leveraging private investment, and focusing political commitment throughout both governments, the Partnership for Growth enables partners to achieve better development results.

USAID Deputy Administrator Steinberg Visits Land Titling Project

Some estimate that approximately half of all land parcels in the Philippines are untitled. This represents
a significant drag on economic growth and investment as these parcels are unbankable and can not
be used as capital assets. Property rights, including land titling, is an area of PFG policy reform that will help support an improved business environment. During his recent visit to the Philippines, DA Donald Steinberg met with beneficiaries of a USAID land titling project in Mabini, Batangas City and was impressed by the ground-breaking changes that the project is making in people's lives. USAID supported the passage of the Residential Free Patent Act in 2010, which allows for rapid and low-cost titling of the estimated 8 million untitled urban residential parcels in the country. In 2011, the first year of implementation, the government issued over 55,000 residential titles, a 1,450% increase over the number of titles issued in previous years..

Mabini resident Petronila Ramos broke into tears after DA Steinberg handed over her property title. She was grateful to USAID’s assistance which helped realize her dream to own the land where she has been living for more than 40 years and to live a more peaceful and productive life