WASHINGTON – The Philippines will submit a report card to the Millennium Challenge Corp. later this month on steps it has taken to curb corruption to enable it to avail of up to $500 million in US aid.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita will head a delegation to Washington armed with relevant data that he said will show the Philippines has hurdled the 17 benchmarks – particularly the control of corruption criteria – the MCC has established to determine if a poor, developing country is eligible for aid.
He will be accompanied by Finance Secretary Gary Teves, Dante Canlas, former head of the National Economic and Development Authority, and Ambassador Cesar Bautista.
The MCC is expected to evaluate the report and announce by December whether it will sign a compact agreement with the Philippines opening the floodgate of aid under the US government‘s innovative foreign assistance program.
The Philippines had hoped to sign the compact last year but a failing grade in “control of corruption” delayed its selection.
The MCC board stressed that the Philippines must meet the selection criteria, particularly the Control of Corruption indicator, before it would approve a compact.
Ermita had preliminary talks with MCC officials when he accompanied President Arroyo for talks with President Barack Obama at the White House recently.
He described as “most challenging” the process of acquiring a compact status under MCC’s Millennium Challenge Account.
“The conferment of ‘compact partner’ status is an honor to be cherished not only for the attendant financial benefits but also for the added legitimacy it gives to a country’s campaign for good governance,” he said.
Since its inception in 2004, MCC has approved compacts totaling over $6.3 billion with 18 countries. –Jose Katigbak STAR Washington Bureau (The Philippine Star)
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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