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
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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