Making A Difference in Mindanao. Joel Mangahas

Since its inception in 1966, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been involved in the development of Mindanao, which accounts for a large slice of ADB operations in the Philippines. As of May 2010, ADB had approved 192 public sector/sovereign loans to the Philippines totaling $11.3 billion. Out of the 184 completed loans, 36 ($815.0 million) were exclusive to Mindanao while 30 ($1.2 billion) had national coverage but with subprojects in Mindanao. Out of the eight active loans, seven ($350 million) have subprojects in Mindanao. This report focuses on ADB's assistance to the Mindanao island group, particularly on how the project interventions may have made a difference in the lives of Mindanaoans.