The Philippines government, with funding from the World Bank, has proposed a project with the intention of enhancing farm and fishery productivity and increasing rural incomes. The government proposes to accomplish this through improving access to infrastructure, market information and support services and increasing the value of producers' market surplus. The Philippines Rural Development Program will be the primary implementing agency. The two most relevant components of the project in terms of social and environmental impact are listed below.

Intensified Building Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-BUILD)
This component would support a flexible menu of eligible local infrastructure including access roads and bridges, tire tracks, small scale water supply, water collection and storage systems, irrigation systems, shallow tube wells, market collection centers, post-harvest facilities, fish landings, and other fisheries-related infrastructure and facilities identified as critical in supporting the priority commodity value chains in the regional Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Plans.

Investments for Rural Enterprises and Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity (I- REAP).
This component would provide for investments supportive of climate change adaptation such as crop diversification and other strategies that will mitigate climate and weather impacts on production, household incomes and food security. Natural resource management investments such as mangrove planting and or stabilization of hillsides through tree plantings would be integrated into community enterprise programs.

Location: The project will be implemented nationwide in all 16 regions of the Philippines covering the major Islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Risk Assessment: B.

The World Bank classifies proposed projects based on the type, location, sensitivity, and scale of the project and the nature and severity of its potential environmental impacts. Category B- Project has "potential adverse environmental impacts on human populations or environmentally important areas - including wetlands, forests, grasslands, and other natural habitats".

APPLICABLE SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS

Environmental Assessment OP/BP 4.01

triggered because "the project will fund rural infrastructure and agri-enterprise development sub-projects that are expected to have environmental and social impacts."

Indigenous Peoples OP/BP 4.10

triggered because "there is a possibility that they will be unable to participate in the planning and development process and/ or share the benefits of the project if measures are not properly in place."

Involuntary Resettlement OP/BP 4.12

triggered because "rural infrastructure sub-projects may involve involuntary land acquisition which in rare cases may entail displacement of homes and/or livelihoods. Crops and properties may also be damaged or temporarily affected by construction activities and some owners would need to be justly compensated."

Safety of Dams OP/BP 4.37

triggered because "the project will finance communal irrigation systems which may involve dam construction or rehabilitation." These will be small dams and most likely ogee weirs for run-off river irrigation systems or dirt dams for small water impounding.

Natural Habitats OP/BP 4.04

triggered because "given that the sub-projects are implemented nationwide, most of which will be identified during implementation, it's highly likely that some sub-projects will affect natural habitats." Impacts to natural habitats, both positive and negative, will be individually assessed per sub-project.

Pest Management OP 4.09

triggered because "the program may result in increased use of pesticides as commercial production increases in project supported areas.

OUR RISK ASSESSMENT

Based on the World Bank's project documents, this project poses potential risks to the following human rights:

Right to Property & Adequate Housing

The need to secure rights of way for roads and irrigation canals as well as sites for post-harvest and this is likely to have homes and structures relocated to adjacent lots or rehabilitate in case of damage.

Right to Food

Loss of land from roads and canal rights-of-way and sites of facilities is likely to affect food production for the smallholder farmers.

Right to an Income

Families under natural resource management sub-projects who are non-members or choose not to join people's organization organized and/or supported by the project could lose access to their traditional fishing grounds, hillside farms and/or forest lands as new policies and rules of access to these resources are imposed.

Right to Culture

Implementation of project activities in areas where indigenous cultural communities or peoples are present may likely affect their way of life.

Bank financing: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Borrower: Ministry of Finance, Government of Philippines
Amount of bank loan or investment: $500m
Total project cost: $627m

*No contacts available at time of writing.

Complaints and grievances relating to the resettlement entitlements and/or activities will be handled through stages involving the Barangay committee as the first stage followed by the Municipal Planning and Development Officer (MPDO), Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU), and to the Department of Agriculture Regional Project Coordination Office (DA RPCO) and Project Support Office (PSO)

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. You can learn more about the Inspection Panel and how to file a complaint at: http://ewebapps.worldbank.org/apps/ip/Pages/Home.aspx.