Phl to get second Millennium Challenge package from US

MANILA, Philippines – The United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has unanimously re-selected the Philippines for a second grant package for development assistance.

The US aid agency, established by the US Congress in 2004, is independent from the State Department that administers the USAID. It aims to deliver long-term economic improvements to developing countries.

The formal re-selection of the Philippines by the MCC Board of Directors on Dec. 16 was announced yesterday by the MCC.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. said “the re-selection of the Philippines for a second compact is a recognition of President Aquino’s firm and continuing commitment to good governance.”

The re-selection, a recognition of the country’s continuing efforts to improve its performance on MCC’s scorecard which measures countries’ commitment to ruling justly, ensuring economic freedom and genuinely investing in their people, followed the board’s decision last year that the Philippines was eligible for a second compact.

The second compact is expected to succeed the first that expires at the end of May 2016.

Approved in 2010, the first compact provided the Philippines with $262 million for the Secondary National Roads Development Project to improve access to markets and services for farmers, fishermen and small businessmen; $120 million for Kalahi-CIDSS that empowers communities by encouraging their participation in poverty reducing activities; and $54.3 million for the computerization and streamlining of business processes of the Bureau of Internal Revenue to bolster tax collection and reduce corruption under the Revenue Administration Reform Project.