Philippines scores low in controlling corruption, ensuring rule of law — report

MANILA, Philippines — The country received low scores in controlling corruption and ensuring rule of law, aid firm Millennium Challenge Corporation Fiscal Year 2018 Scorecard showed.

The percentile ranking of the Philippines in low income group category was 50 percent in control of corruption after scoring zero and 47 percent in rule of law after scoring -0.01.

This means that the country did not meet the performance standard.

The country, however, met the standard in government effectiveness at 80 percent and freedom of information at 77 percent.

It also performed well in the indicators political rights with a score of 27 and civil liberties with a score of 36.

Economic freedom

In terms of economic freedom category, the country ranked well in fiscal policy and regulatory quality both at 87 percent, trade policy at 67 percent and land rights and access at 59 percent.

The country also met the standard in terms of inflation with a score of 1.8.

However, the performances of the Philippines in gender economy (13 percent), access to credit (13 percent) and business start-up (43 percent) were below standard.

Investing in people

The country met the standards in terms of natural resource protection (73 percent), girls’ secondary education enrollment rate (55 percent) and child health (70 percent).

But it performed poorly in health expenditures at 13 percent.

The country’s immunization rates were also below standard after obtaining a score of 83.

MCC, an independent American aid agency created by the US Congress, aims to support developing countries that promote good governance.

It assesses performances of countries every year in categories namely: ruling justly, investing in people and encouraging economic freedom to determine if candidate nations are eligible for its assistance programs.

In August, it announced that the Philippines is one of the candidates for compact eligibility for fiscal year 2018.

The aid agency has not made any announcement about the country’s eligibility as the MCC Board of Directors would bare the list of new partner countries in December.

If the Philippines secures the MCC grant, it would be the second time for the country to receive the assistance. The first grant, worth $434 million, was approved by the MCC in 2011.

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