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