The Government of the Philippines (the Government), through the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA), requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide an
advisory technical assistance (TA) for Strengthening Provincial and Local Planning and Expenditure
Management. The TA is included in the 2004 country program for the Philippines. A preparatory work
to investigate the problems and issues in provincial planning and expenditure management has been
prepared.1 A Fact-Finding Mission was fielded 14-30 July 2004 and reached understanding with the Government on the objective, scope, cost estimate, financing and implementation arrangements of the TA. This builds on the ADB-World Bank-Government report “Public Expenditure, Procurement and Financial Management Review”, jointly conducted in 2003.
