Ombudsman still hopeful RP will bag MCC grant

Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez said yesterday she remains hopeful the Philippines would still qualify for large-scale grant funding from an innovative foreign assistance program of the US despite the country’s failure to be elevated to Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) compact status for fiscal year 2009.

“We’re doing our job. For 2009, we will even double our efforts to fight graft and corruption in government – hopefully with the help and cooperation of other agencies,” she told reporters in an interview.

In its report for fiscal year 2009, the MCC noted the country failed to score above the median in 14 out of 17 indicators used in determining if a country deserves the economic aid.

To be eligible for US assistance, developing countries must show their commitment to policies that promote political and economic freedom, investments in education and health, control of corruption, and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law by performing well on 17 different policy indicators.

The Philippines received failing grades in control of corruption (47 percent), health expenditures (19 percent) and primary education (32 percent) in the MCC report for 2009.

The report cited the continuing decline in the country’s “control of corruption” scorecard, which dropped progressively from 76 percent in fiscal year 2007 to 57 percent in 2008 and 47 percent in 2009.

Apart from the Philippines, the MCC said Jordan, Malawi, Moldova and Senegal also failed in its scorecard. However, these countries would still be able to continue the process of developing compacts in fiscal year 2009.

Gutierrez conceded to the report of MCC, saying “there were indicators that were really not met.”

“But it is important for us to work more to get satisfaction because this MCC grant will really be of big help in achieving our objective of combating corruption and eventually ending poverty,” she explained.

Gutierrez also cited that her office did its part in the government’s campaign to bag MCC grant.

They set at least 40 percent conviction rate and “we got over 60 percent as of November.”

She believes the decision of MCC to extend the period for the Philippines to meet its standards was a result of “problem in perception” on corruption in the country.

The Ombudsman said she plans to improve on prosecution of graft cases in 2009 to be able to improve perception on the government in terms of combating graft and corruption.

“We will address delay in disposition of cases. We will see to it that the cases we handle will be resolved swiftly and surely. We will double our efforts since we have to compete with other countries also in getting MCC compact status,” she said.

The MCC grant is a program of the US government to help reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth.