RP on track to get $470M from US good governance agency

The Philippines is on track to receive more funds next year from a United States agency that provides aid to nations committed to good governance. For the third time, Manila was unanimously reselected “Compact-eligible" for 2010, possibly entitling the country to an estimated $470 million (roughly P27 billion) from the Washington, DC-based Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The MCC’s “reselection of the Philippines" reaffirms the grant-giving body’s confidence in the country’s commitment for a better government. “With the country’s reselection as Compact eligible for FY 2010, the Philippine government reiterates its continuing commitment to good policy performance," DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo said. The MCC scoreboard in combating corruption showed that the country secured a passing mark. [See: Govt fight vs corruption improving - grant-giving body] (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/176651/govt-fight-vs-corruption-improving-grant-giving-body) The scorecard is the basis of MCC’s five-year compact grants to developing countries, for which the Philippines is eligible to receive some $470 million in Poverty Reduction Threshold Programs since November 2006. Earlier, the Philippines was seen to slip out of the Compact eligible list after it failed in the MCC scorecard for Immunization Rates, Girls’ Primary Education Completion, Health Expenditures and Primary Education Expenditures. But in the latest MCC report, the Philippines showed an improved ranking from 39 to 33 in the Control of Corruption (CoC) indicator. But the country would have showed improved performances had it not been elevated to a higher income category. The Philippines has been moved this year to lower middle-income (LMIC) country category (countries with per capita income greater than $1,785 but less than or equal to $3,705) from last year’s low-income country (LIC) (per capita income less than or equal to $1,785). In a press statement issued after its board meeting, MCC said that the Philippines’ and Indonesia’s graduation to a higher income category, as well as other factors including higher medians and changes to the indicator system, “can impact a country’s indicator performance, while not necessarily reflecting a change in policy performance." Secretary of State and MCC Board Chair Hillary Clinton earlier defended the Philippine government’s performance. “The Philippines should not be penalized for its own success," Clinton was quoted as saying during her November 12 Manila visit. The Philippines proposal focused on three “high-impact" projects, namely: the Secondary National Roads Development (SNRD); Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) and Integrated Revenue Information System (IRIS). The Philippines’ proposal for a 2010 to 2014 grant is now under the MCC’s technical review. - RJAB, Jr./GMANews.TV