Phl likely to qualify for add'l Millenium Challenge grant

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines may continue to receive grants from the United States government’s Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) if it succeeds in implementing reforms toward transparency and good governance, said Matthew Bonn, resident country director for the Philippines.

“Assuming the Philippines is doing well, they can apply for a second grant,” he told The STAR on the sidelines of a press briefing yesterday organized by the Tuesday Club media group.

Bonn nonetheless said the agency is pleased with the Aquino administration’s efforts toward transparency and good governance.

“It is clear that this administration is very much focused on fighting corruption,” he said.

He declined to comment on the ongoing impeachment trial against Chief Justice Renato Corona but noted that the current administration looks very much committed in fighting corruption.

“We’ve been pleased with the government’s commitment,” Bonn said.

The Philippines is currently a recipient of a $434-million grant from MCC.

The contract for the so-called MCC Compact grant was signed in September 2010. The grant, which is funding three major projects, would be implemented over a five-year period or until 2016.

Specifically, the Compact grant supports the priorities of the Philippine government to reduce poverty by promoting sustainable economic growth through several projects.

One project is the $54.30-million Revenue Administration Reform Project (RARP) under the auspices of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS).

Bonn said this project is crucial in the government’s efforts to raise tax revenues and reduce tax evasion and corruption, as it would fund the modernization of the revenue collection system.

Another project is the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) which is worth $120 million.

To be implemented by the Department of Social Work and Development, the project is envisioned to improve community-level infrastructure and social services in far flung areas.

The last project is a road rehabilitation project in Samar.

Dubbed as the Secondary National Roads Development Project (SNRDP), the $214.44 million project aims to cut transportation costs and improve access to markets and social services.