Microcredit can be an effective tool for tackling the global poverty problem. Making microcredit work better for the poor necessitates a framework that integrates the principles of good governance in the design and implementation of a microcredit program. The integration of good governance...

While the national average for maternal and child health services utilization shows improvement, the Philippines is yet to achieve the MDG targets for maternal and child health. This study shows inequality in maternal and child health services utilization across economic classes and across...

In 2006, poverty incidence in the Philippines went up by 3 percentage points from 2003, marking a reversal against the downward trend in previous poverty estimates. This upward trend went against expectations after the Philippine economy exhibited a relatively robust performance during this...

Directing government subsidies to social services such as health care is expected to bring about positive external/social benefits and improve equity in access to health services. In general, government spending on health is envisioned to improve the well-being of beneficiaries and enhance their...

Highly unequal access to health services and the large share of household out-of-pocket spending in total health expenditures underscore the importance of attaining universal health coverage. This study evaluates the major challenges involved in moving toward universal coverage of the Philippine...

The paper examines the performance of the Philippines with respect to the fight against poverty. It reviews the trends in poverty using the various human development indicators. It also examines the changes in the policy environment over the last 25 years. It identifies issues relating to...

The paper discusses critical land issues in the Philippines and assesses the integration of those issues in the national development agenda and poverty reduction strategies. It covers issues related to agriculture, forest and urban lands, land administration and management and government...

This paper examines the development of microfinance market from the household perspective as it relates to poverty alleviation. It employs poverty decomposition and dominance analysis. The analysis was divided into four components: comparison between beneficiaries of community-oriented financial...

This paper extends the analysis on microfinance and poverty from the household perspective by focusing on the role of other economically active household members in alleviating household poverty. Results show that additional other economically active household members expand the pool of income...

This paper examines the extent of asset accumulation and saving of the households from the credit they obtained from community-oriented financial intermediaries (COFIs and other financial sources. In the process, this paper also investigates how the government can assist in asset development,...