The Philippines received a total of $2.4-billion official development assistance (ODA) grants as of December 2018, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
Neda data showed the project that received the largest grant was the Growth with Equity in Mindanao III (GEM III) Rebuild project worth $150.07 million from the United States.
The project focused on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan)-affected areas. The project is being implemented by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
“Rebuild, reconstruct and rehabilitate Typhoon Haiyan-affected areas. Rebuild restores access to education and health services, and promotes livelihood activities,” Neda said in a document.
Other big-ticket projects that received the largest grants included the Basic Education Sector Transformation (BEST) Program worth $107.75 million from Australia and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, $74.15 million from China.
The BEST program of the Department of Education helps the government implement the K to 12 program, which covers kindergarten and 12 years of basic education. This is composed of six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School and two years of Senior High School.
The grant for the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge from China involves the construction of steel arch bridge, basket type supporting a four-lane deck of approximately 734 lineal meters to connect the Intramuros side and Binondo side of the Pasig River.
The list includes the Access to Sustainable Energy in the Philippines, which received grants worth $68.45 million from the European Union and the Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) project worth $64.65 million also from Australia.
The Access to Sustainable Energy in the Philippines project helps the country generate more electricity from renewable energy, increase the efficiency of energy use, make the power sector more disaster resilient and increase access for the poor to affordable energy.
The Pathways project helps the country improve equity and performance in basic education by children in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that will contribute to more resilience, stability, peace and prosperity in the region.
The largest ODA grants came from the United States, Australia, and the United Nations System worth $886.47 million, $476.19 million, and $349.28 million, respectively.
In terms of actual projects, the UN System had the most number of projects at 134 followed by the United States with 57 projects and Australia with 53 projects.
While the GEM III was the largest grant project of the US and the BEST program for Australia, the largest project of the UN System in the country is the Reproductive Health Supply.
The project strengthened capacity of national and local health systems to deliver core reproductive health information and services to women and their newborn infants, young people and men.
It targets those who are living in selected geographical areas that are isolated and disadvantaged. The project is also being implemented in areas that have humanitarian situations.