"Disasters, both natural and man- made, have been a major source of poverty and vulnerability in the Philippines," the Manila-based lender said in a country report yesterday.

Situated in the "Ring of Fire" of volcanic islands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean and in the typhoon belt, the country gets a hefty dose of typhoons, floods, waves, landslides, quakes and volcanic eruptions.

These "adversely affected an annual average of about eight million people, mostly in rural areas," the bank said.

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"Only about one-half of the affected people received assistance from the government and private relief institutions.

"Of those assisted, the value of assistance was a miniscule amount, not even representing 1 percent of the average income during `normal' times of the poorest 30 percent of the population."

The bank said there was a lack of funds as well as "poor targeting" caused by poor governance, leading to "significant leakages and wastage of resources."

It said the scant aid reaching displaced populations was "a serious concern considering that disasters often inflict severe damage and loss to property and destroy the only means of livelihood for the poor.

"Failing to receive assistance, they risk falling to perpetual poverty traps."

The bank said the Philippines gets hit every year with 20 typhoons that come with strong winds, intense rainfall and flooding.

Separately, the nation's Senate has summoned two executives of Chinese telecoms giant ZTE Corp to testify about a corruption scandal battering President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

It is investigating a state broadband deal with ZTE, endorsed by Arroyo, that was allegedly tainted by bribery.

Arroyo, her husband Mike and the country's former elections chief Benjamin Abalos deny wrongdoing.

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