President Arroyo to allocate more for anti-corruption drive
abs-cbnnews.com | 03/15/2008 1:02 PM
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President Arroyo Saturday assured an official of a US government corporation that her administration will allocate more funds to the anti-corruption drive of the Philippines. In a letter to Ambassador John Danilovich, chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), the President
President Arroyo Saturday assured an official of a US government corporation that her administration will allocate more funds to the anti-corruption drive of the Philippines.
In a letter to Ambassador John Danilovich, chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), the President said she will earmark additional funding to step up her administration’s anti-corruption campaign.
The President Arroyo recently approved the P1.227 national budget for 2008, considered the highest national budget signed into law in the history of the country.
"With the enactment of the 2008 budget, our anti-corruption efforts will further accelerate. The Ombudsman shall receive its P959-million allocation, twice the level in 2002. Our revenue agencies shall put in place computerized systems to better monitor economic activity and collect the right taxes and duties," Mrs. Arroyo said.
Mrs. Arroyo also cited that the Procurement Transparency Group, headed by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., has been working overtime to ensure that all government transactions will be graft-free.
"To further enhance integrity of public contract bidding, the Procurement Transparency Group is in full operation, harnessing both national agencies and civil society groups to monitor the procurement process. I have already ordered all state agencies and corporations to submit spending plans and bidding information requested by the PTG," she said.
The President also said her administration substantially reduced the rate of the extra-judicial killings in the country.
"We have also addressed the problem of political violence. Killings of activists and media fell 83% last year from 2006. Investigation and prosecution of suspects, including several police and military personnel, are continuing," she said, adding that the Supreme Court has come up with new legal remedies like the writ of amparo and habeas data for victims of enforced disappearances.
"We hope that these and similar initiatives and achievements shall bring the Philippines closer to Compact status. Our thanks again for the MCC's decision on our eligibility status," she said.
Last March 11, The MCC announced in Washington that the Philippines "has been selected as eligible" for more MCC funds based on good governance indicators.
"Congratulations to the Government of the Philippines for its demonstrated commitment to tackling difficult challenges and improving the lives of its people," said Danilovich.
The MCC Board lauded the Arroyo government's efforts in three MCC-funded programs focused on "helping curb corruption through improved tax and customs administration and strengthening of their Ombudsman’s office."
The MCC said the Philippines could now apply for a MCC Compact, a multi-year funding facility for poverty reduction and economic growth projects.
Fifteen poor countries, mostly in Africa and South America, have MCC accounts.
"The MCC Board determines eligibility for this large-scale grant funding based on independent indicators that measure good governance, the country’s investments in its people and policies that encourage economic freedom," the MCC said in a press statement.
Established in January 2004, the MCC is a US government corporation assisting deserving developing countries. It works on the principle that "aid is most effective when it reinforces sound political, economic, and social policies that promote poverty reduction through economic growth."
According to the MCC, "countries are selected to receive assistance based on their performance in governing justly, investing in their citizens, and encouraging economic freedom. Because corruption undermines every aspect of sustainable development, MCC has made fighting it one of its highest priorities."
The decision on whether the Philippines could qualify for more MCC funds was delayed last December "when the Board requested additional time for review and deeper analysis of the Philippines' passing performance on the eligibility criteria."
The MCC Board decided Tuesday that the Philippines had passed the MCC’s criteria for the next stage.
However, the MCC said being eligible does not guarantee funding approval.
"While eligibility is an essential first step towards a poverty reduction grant from the MCC, selection does not guarantee funding," Danilovich said.
"The Philippines, like all countries eligible for a compact, must maintain its performance on the MCC selection criteria and must now begin a broad-based consultative process with its people to develop a proposal that addresses the country’s barriers to poverty reduction and economic growth," he added.
