WB president in Manila to meet Aquino, check reforms

World Bank president Robert Zoellick arrived Tuesday in Manila, where he will later meet President Benigno Aquino III and some of his administration’s top officials to check on the implementation of the conditional cash transfer programs and governance reforms. “We know corruption is a drag on the economy, taxes the poor, and strangles opportunity, so I am looking forward to seeing first hand and learning from some of the reforms President Aquino has put in place to improve governance," Zoellick said before he left Washington D.C. On the itinerary of the World Bank president is a visit to a project site of the CCT, known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program, which was designed to raise school attendance rates and maternal and children’s health among the poorest 2.2 million households of the country. “As of September this year, the Bank has a total commitment of over US$2 billion with an additional US$185 million in commitments from the Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC)," the WB said in a statement. Zoellick last met President Aquino in September when Aquino addressed the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Aquino outlined the reforms his administration has made. “And it all begins with cleaning up government: instituting a culture of transparency and accountability—at the bottom line, a culture of trust in government. The strengthening of institutions levels the playing field and provides for an environment conducive to economic growth," Aquino said at the WB-IMF meetings. — ELR, GMA News