The Marcos administration is seeking financial support from a US foreign aid agency to bolster its efforts to combat corruption and enhance revenue generation, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said the Washington-backed Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) could potentially support the Philippines in key areas such as combating corruption and enhancing the efficiency of revenue administration through digitalization.
Additionally, Recto said that the MCC could aid in government-supported infrastructure projects, boosting agricultural productivity to address inflation, and advancing the education sector.
Last December, the MCC resumed engagement with Manila after a seven-year hiatus, during which it had ceased providing development grants to the country due to human rights concerns.
Recto held on Thursday a meeting with Alice Albright, the CEO of MCC, to discuss strategies for creating and executing programs focused on promoting economic growth and reducing poverty in the Philippines.
Established by the US Congress in 2004, the MCC is dedicated to investing in countries with strong governance. It offers time-limited grants aimed at fostering economic growth, alleviating poverty, and bolstering institutions.
Recto said he welcomed the MCC's decision to re-engage with the Philippines, making it eligible for grants to support projects that would bring about economic and social transformation for all Filipinos.
The finance chief emphasized the need to expedite the threshold process and access compact grant resources for the Philippines to swiftly benefit from the program.
In 2016, the MCC did not renew its aid package to the Philippines due to "significant concerns" about the rule of law under the Duterte administration.
Manila previously received $434 million in support through the MCC's first Compact grant, which ended in 2016, and an earlier $20.7 million threshold grant implemented from 2006 to 2009.