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)
Tags: Millennium Challenge Corporation, Private Sector Assistance in Land Management, PSALM, public high schools internet
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Written by Misael on 14 May 2008
ANOTHER window opens with brighter prospects for Bohol as the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), one of the country’s most recent sources of funds in development assistance comes here.
The Bohol visit though, is no indication that Bohol’s priority anti-poverty development projects would automatically funnel funds from the multi-million dollar grants portfolio that the MCC has been granting to the world’s countries thrashing out of poverty, MCC Vice President John Hewko says.
He stressed however that the Philippine is already eligible and a core team in Manila actually decides which projects, sectors or geographic area can be granted aid in the Philippines.
The Philippines has lately achieved MCC grant eligibility and all local development efforts needing assistance now compete for it.
On the other hand, Department of Finance Undersecretary Roberto Tan assured that the Philippine government would like to be very broad in its consultations to be able to come out with a framework that has the most impact to communities.
The MCC in Bohol also immerses the bigwigs of the US grant agency to the development innovations in Bohol, one which was presented to them by Provincial planning and Development Officer Atty. John Titus Vistal.
Hewko lauded Bohol presentation calling it excellent, and one of the best in their 20 or more provincial and city government interactions across the globe.
With the rave, hopes still remain high as MCC’s hinted that Bohol could hold an ace in its attempt to dip into MCC fund sources. MCC saw that its goals are consistent with Bohol’s development priorities.
In another show of unity and support, both Governor Erico Aumentado along with Capitol department heads and Vice Governor Hererra with his flank of legislators sat through the entire interaction held at the Chatto Conference Hall May 14.
In another presentation, Hewko cited that their corporation aims to provide greater resources to countries that are taking responsibilities in their own development.
He added that their assistance jibes with development as a key pillar in US policy aims.
According to Hewko, the MCC is a United States Government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world.
MCC, he said is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people.
Its mission is to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth.
Citing local efforts, MCC said they are into helping countries with sound governance and economic policies, broad country ownership of development efforts and with clear objectives, measurable results and with a high level of transparency.
Bohol has all of these in place, MCC officials said after the presentation. (rachiu/PIA)
Tags: , Bohol, Millennium Challenge Corporation
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