RP gets failed mark in 2 MCC criteria

The Philippines continues to fall behind two indicators, on health and primary education expenditures, in the yearly score card of the US government’s Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) that tracks country’s compliance with the global goal of eliminating poverty by 2015.

The country, nevertheless, scored “above median” on the 17 indicators in the scorecard and was considered eligible for MCC grant this year.

MCC, however, reminded that the Philippines must maintain and improve the country’s performance on the indicators to remain eligible for MCC assistance.

In the Ruling Justly and Economic Freedom category the Philippines scored above median (50 percent) in all of the six indicators: 58 percent for political rights, 74 percent for civil liberties, 60 percent for control of corruption, 97 percent for government effectiveness, 74 percent for rule of law, and 81 percent for voice and accountability.

It was in the Investing in People category that the country got a failing mark for two of the five indicators: 18 percent for health

expenditures and 32 percent for primary education expenditures.

It, nevertheless got high marks for immunization rates, 66 percent; girls’ primary education completion, 92 percent; and natural resource management, 100 percent.

On economic freedom, the country again posted above average scores: 98 percent for regulatory quality, 86 percent for land rights and access, 63 percent for business start-up, 83 percent for trade policy, 73 percent for inflation and 52 percent for fiscal policy.

The scores were compiled for the 2011 round of the MCC compact grant, which would be presented to the MCC board of directors, chaired by US State Secretary Hillary Clinton during the MCC’s quarterly meeting on December 15 in New York City.

The annual country-by-country indicator measured the policy performance of 84 developing countries that are candidates for grant assistance.

The Philippines is listed under the category of Lower-Middle Income Countries and competes with its peer for the corresponding grant based on their performance reflected in the indicators.

”The Philippines scored above the median on a majority of the indicators, including all indicators in the Ruling Justly and Economic Freedom categories, thereby meeting the eligibility criteria for MCC assistance,” according to MCC report.

In the “Investing in People” category, which includes school-age children being actually in schools, the Philippines did not reach the above-median score.

The latest report was the same assessment for 2010 during the administration of then

“Our recently signed US$ 434 million Millennium Challenge Compact with the Philippines is a result of the Philippine Government’s commitment to the indicator criteria and our joint desire to improve the economic conditions and the lives of the poor,” said US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr.

“Continued progress in these areas will foster the conditions necessary for sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction,” he added.

Countries determined eligible for MCC compact assistance by its board of directors have the opportunity to submit a proposal for a five-year grant program to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth.

The board also may select countries for eligibility for MCC’s threshold program, a grant program that supports targeted policy reforms to help participating countries qualify for compact eligibility. –Daily Tribune