De Leuw helps local Philippine governments and private sector to improve economy.

MANILA, Philippines--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 1995--De Leuw, Cather International Ltd. (DCIL) is working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to promote private- sector growth in local and regional economies of the Philippines by overseeing 55 small-scale infrastructure projects that have an estimated constructed value of $60 million.

The projects, financed by USAID's Local Government Infrastructure Fund (LGIF), are under construction in 39 localities throughout the country. They include markets and trading centers, bus terminals, road and bridge projects and science high schools, said DCIL Project Manager Peter Graziano.

``These projects are funded by LGIF, which means local governments and the private sector financed more than 50 percent of the cost of the projects,'' said Graziano. ``This demonstrates how USAID promotes commitment on the part of grant participants and provides incentives which result in increased competition, local autonomy and enhanced political involvement.''

DCIL was selected, in part, because it demonstrated its ``capability to work successfully with government to manage projects that combine infrastructure improvement, economic growth and institutional development,'' said Graziano.

At the onset of the program, DCIL created standards for modular plans on computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) software, prequalified contractors and conducted training seminars. DCIL defined the entire development process and trained local government and private-sector participants to achieve the goals of the process.

DCIL's consulting services were used to assist in the selection of participating local governments, project selection, feasibility studies, environmental assessment and finance, site adaption of standard plans, the bidding process, construction and operation and maintenance of all facilities.

Currently, DCIL is helping local governments in the Philippines form and maintain partnerships with the private sector, including assistance on obtaining credit financing and attracting investors for other projects.

DCIL is a unit of De Leuw, Cather & Co., which is a subsidiary of The Parsons Corp., one of the world's largest, full-service engineering and construction organizations. Parsons is a recognized leader in infrastructure, government, industrial and community development projects; as well as the ground transportation, environmental, power, petroleum and chemical, aviation and pulp and paper industries.

CONTACT: The Parsons Corp.

Noel Wolfe, 818/440-2539 (office)

310/372-7636 (home)

Kevin Kelley, 818/440-2463 (office)

909/593-5289 (home)