PHL scores low in controlling corruption, rule of law —MCC

The Philippines scored low in controlling corruption and ensuring the rule of law, according to the Millennium  Challenge Corporation FY 2018 Scorecard.

The country's percentile ranking in its respective income group was 50 percent in control of corruption and 47 percent in rule of law.

In terms of democratic rights, the Philippines' performance met the standard: a score of 27 for political rights and 36 for civil liberties.

It also ranked well in government effectiveness (80 percent) and freedom of information (77 percent).

Economic freedom

The Philippines meanwhile performed well in fiscal policy (87 percent), regulatory quality (87 percent), trade policy (67 percent), and land rights and access (59 percent).

The country also garnered a score of 1.8 in terms of inflation.

However, in terms of gender in the economy, access to credit, and business start-up, percentile rankings were below standard. It was 13 percent for gender in the economy, 13 percent for access to credit, and 43 percent for business start-up.

Investing in people

The country garnered percentile rankings meeting the standard in these areas under the category Investing in People: 73 percent for natural resource protection, 70 percent for child health, and 55 percent for girls' secondary education enrollment rate.

As for health expenditures, the Philippines' percentile ranking in its respective income group is 13 percent, which is below standard.

The country also garnered a score of 83.0 for immunization rates.

The MCC annually comes up with a scorecard for each MCC candidate country, rating it in three policy categories: Ruling Justly, Investing in People, and Encouraging Economic Freedom.

The scorecard serves as basis for determining extension of grants to recipient countries like the Philippines.

Grant deferred

In December 2016, MCC deferred the selection of the Philippines to receive a multi-million dollar development grant, citing concerns on “rule of law and civil liberties.”

President Rodrigo Duterte then said the MCC can "eat its money," saying the Philippines can survive without funds from the United States aid agency.

"Kainin na ninyo 'yang dollar ninyo! Letse kayo!," Duterte said.

The MCC is an independent American aid agency created by the US Congress in 2004. —KG, GMA News