The political economy of the environmental official development assistance in the Philippines: a critical case analysis of the Global Environment Facility - Manila Third Sewerage Project

Abstract

A number of paradoxes are presented in the study of environmental official development assistance - a trade-off between the economy and the environment and that of hegemonic interests over sustainable people-oriented development. However, in the current global economic system, environmental aid has postured itself as an alternative to conventional foreign aid. Nevertheless, the purpose of it has been the same: to advance the economic, political, security and commercial interests of aid donors. In the case of the Philippines, a developing country dependent on foreign aid from both bilateral and multilateral donors, an estimated amount of 75 trillion pesos has been received as environmental aid. Being one of the pressing ecological issues in the country, the problem with water pollution which includes sewerage and sanitation management have been receiving environmental aid since 1996. This study aims to assess the effects of environmental aid given to the Philippines through the analysis of the Global Environment Fund - Manila Third Sewerage Project using document analysis and key informant interviews. Ultimately, evidences point toward the environmental aid being received by the Philippines as a tool for anti-people and procapitalist methods and policies which hindered sustainable sanitation and therefore, sustainable development.