Rey Anthony Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, April 16, 2012 (PIA) – A Boholano source privy to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) deals with the Philippines says the corporation tends to grant Bohol community driven development (CDD) projects some P128.5 million.
The grant is part of the fund the MCC’s $434 million grant to the country as aid to help it advance its attainment of anti-poverty and human development milestones.
Lined up for the grant are people beneficiaries of Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) of Ubay, Carmen, CPG, Buenavista, Danao, Pilar, San Miguel, Mabini, Trinidad, Getafe, Talibon and Bien Unido.
In a shared press material, former Commission on Audit Commissioner and Boholano financial wiz Silvestre Sarmiento said the MCC has tended to grant funds for development projects in Bohol, during their current meetings with the corporation.
Set us as an entity to smartly inject United States government assistance to developing countries who have committed to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the MCC grants foreign aid to fund projects that dent on poverty alleviation through sustainable economic growth, promote opportunities of growth, elevate living standards and push for a better community by impacting on the goals set up by the United Nations, and all of these considering protection and conservation of the environment.
The fund is set to augment local funds in prioritized projects including opening up or rehabilitation of key farm to market access roads, bridges, water systems, rain water collectors, farm infrastructure, water impounding systems, community health and education facilities including birthing centers, school buildings, day care centers, post harvest facilities and key community infrastructure which communities have identified as priority, Sarmiento said.
Managed by the Millennium Corporation Account-Philippines, the fund grant is targeted to also achieve mandated objectives which focus on community driven development identified by communities through a consultative selection process; community led selection and identification and community led implementation, monitoring and success evaluation, according to Sarmiento in a press statement.
Sarmiento, who was one of the Ten Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (TOBAW) winners in 2009 also shared that the MCC looks at the DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS as an interesting channel in as much as it has set up a strong resident-stakeholder relationship that ahs been tested in previous projects.
Agog with the development, Sarmiento urges Boholano strong and continuing commitment to show that with beating poverty can only be through cooperation and a generous amount of responsibility. (30)