Abstract:
This descriptive study on the effects micro projects of international financial
institutions on the national identity of the Philippines also focuses on the increasing
partnerships of these institutions with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) or Non-
Government Organizations (NGOs). Since this topic is not well-researched in the
Philippines, it is the goal of the researcher to produce a basis for further studies on the
effects of these micro projects and collaborations on the national identity of the country.
The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of International Financial
Institutions’ micro projects on the nationalistic identity of the Philippines. Specifically, it
aims to identify the perspectives and policies of International Financial Institutions
regarding micro projects at the local level, to determine the reason/s why these
International Financial Institutions are now directly dealing with CSOs/NGOs to support
rather than the national government; to evaluate the trend of these micro projects and
their effect on the local level; and to deduce their impact on national level.
This study has used as primary resources interviews with key persons on the
topic. NGO and CSO coordinators of two international financial institutions, the Asian
Development Bank and the World Bank. Further, it obtained interviews with a partner
NGO, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, and an advocacy NGO which is the
Freedom from Debt Coalition.
In the end, NGOs/CSOs participate in various projects of these financial
institutions from planning to evaluation. Their participation has increased in these
projects because of their deliverance of quality services to the target beneficiaries of these
international financial institutions. This increase also decreases the level of trust of the
people to the government and increases with respect to these NGOs. As a result, the
national identity of the Philippines weakens with these collaborations.
