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Bohol asks for MCC grant on public high schools internet

Written by Misael on 16 May 2008

Tagbilaran City (16 May) — While the Philippines scored low in investing in people, Bohol proposes one project that is to raise the country’s MCC rating and that is investing in internet connectivity for its public high schools.

Early this week, the national government sent to Bohol an entourage of key Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) officials to Bohol to let them pore through Bohol program framework for poverty reduction.

MCC, a subsidiary corporation of the United States Government has been granting multi-year agreements in funding programs aimed at reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth for low income countries across the globe.

Bohol, like many provincial governments and like many poor nations, vies for MCC funds when the Philippines has become eligible for the US help.

The country’s MCC eligibility was attained after the government instituted anti-corruption measures which gained a high MCC rating. Putting up anti corruption measures is a key country performance indicator before it becomes eligible for MCC funding.

The Philippine anti-corruption measure was accepted despite a low rating on investing in people.

Not to be left out this time, Bohol attempts to allow its 231,976 public school enrollees to widen their classroom knowledge by connecting them to the vast information superhighway accessible in the world-wide web.

The Bohol project, which would also be co-shared by local governments concerned proposed for equipment procurement, information management system set-up, training, support services and studies as well as program implementation, says Provincial Planning and Development Officer John Titus Vistal during an MCC interaction at the Capitol recently.

Consistent with the local governments 10 point agenda, other Bohol projects for MCC funding include the Rice Accelerated Emergency Response (RACER) for rice sufficiency, Livestock Integration for Food and Family Enhancement (LIFFE) an innovative livestock dispersal project, Skills Trainings Advocating Reliance and Self-Employment (STAR) a barangay based job generation project and Bohol Employment Placement Office job generation agenda.

Also proposed are environment protection projects in the Private Sector Assistance in Land Management (PSALM) and mari-culture zones establishment.

For the health programs, Bohol proposes for hospital laboratory equipment upgrading and flagship hospital projects as well as its province-wide anti-rabies campaigns. (PIA-Bohol by Rey Anthony Chiu)

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