The Philippines began 2011 with high expectations and optimism after the Aquino administration announced various reform-minded plans and programs. These included a vigorous anti-corruption campaign, plans for greater government transparency and accountability, a number of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for major infrastructure projects, social programs addressing poverty alleviation, and improved education and health programs.

The Philippines began 2011 with high expectations and optimism after the Aquino administration announced various reform-minded plans and programs. These included a vigorous anti-corruption campaign, plans for greater government transparency and accountability, a number of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for major infrastructure projects, social programs addressing poverty alleviation, and improved education and health programs.

The slow resolution of the European debt crisis has evolved into a liquidity problem which threatens the global financial system. And these long-drawn-out efforts to address the sovereign debt problems have heightened uncertainties about resolving the crisis and induced speculative activities, threatening the survival of many European banks. In an effort to contain financial disaster, central banks of the world’s major economies have taken a concerted emergency action to provide cheaper dollar funding to these troubled banks at the end of November 2011. Further, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB) recently pledged readiness to act more aggressively in averting a deeper financial crisis.

The slow resolution of the European debt crisis has evolved into a liquidity problem which threatens the global financial system. And these long-drawn-out efforts to address the sovereign debt problems have heightened uncertainties about resolving the crisis and induced speculative activities, threatening the survival of many European banks. In an effort to contain financial disaster, central banks of the world’s major economies have taken a concerted emergency action to provide cheaper dollar funding to these troubled banks at the end of November 2011. Further, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB) recently pledged readiness to act more aggressively in averting a deeper financial crisis.