Author Topic: Bohol to be a beneficiary of US aid (Read 1687 times)

benelynne · « **on:** May 06, 2008, 09:05:38 AM »

US fund aid picks Bohol as beneficiary
By KIT BAGAIPO
Bohol Chronicle

There is another piece of good news for Boholanos as the Department of Finance has announced recently the inclusion of the province among the areas selected by a United States government funding company to receive much-needed monetary aid for various developmental projects.

In a letter to Gov. Erico Aumentado, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said that representatives of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which was established by the US government to work with some of the poorest countries in the world, is visiting the province "to witness firsthand the economic and social condition" of our localities.

Last month, the MCC has elevated the the Philippines as one of the "Compact Status countries" in recognition of the government's commitment to promote political and economic freedom, investments in education and health, control of corruption and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law.

The MCC provides two different kinds of monetary assistance - Compact and Threshold.

A Compact is a multi-year agreement between the MCC and an eligible country to fund specific programs targeted at reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth.

A Threshold program, on the other hand, is a contract between the MCC and a country that provides financial aid to help improve a low score of a country on one of the MCC's 17 policy indicators.

Among the policy indicators are civil liberties, political rights, immunization rates, public expenditure on health, inflation and trade policy.

By improving a low indicator score, a country would become eligible for a Compact such as the Philippines.

In line with the initial discussions on the Compact Agreement Process and to assist the Philippine government in preparing for a Compact Proposal, the MCC is dispatching its mission here in the country from May 12 to 16.

The US mission will hold dialogues with representatives of the government, the private sector and civil society on issues of poverty alleviation, sustainable economic growth and fighting corruption.

The MCC mission will be in Bohol on May 14, according to Teves.

The finance secretary said that Bohol was chosen as one of the areas for investment "in view of the high importance being given by [the] province to alleviating poverty, the holistic approach to development and the success of implementing development projects.

The mission will be headed by John Hewko, vice president for Compact development of MCC; Darius Teter, deputy vice president for Compact development; Darius Nassiry, country director, Compact development; and Jerry Dutkewych, MCC director for country relations.

The US group will hold talks with provincial board members and stakeholders.

They will be visiting project locations in the towns and see eco-tourism sites.

The provincial government will host a dinner for the visiting MCC representatives while holding a meeting with local government officials, heads of non-government organizations, civil society and the business sector.

Being included among the MCC's investment areas, the province will have an opportunity to get millions of dollars in aid.

MCC is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people.

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2008, 09:16:39 AM »

It is kind of the United States government to be sending economic aid to needy countries.
But even as we speak there are 40 million Americans who do not even have medical insurance.
Over 10 million American citizens live under the poverty level, including children.

There is a problem here. This country helps the world, but cannot even address the needs of its own citizens. There is a gigantic discrepancy here. Fighting a war of terrorism. What about the war on drugs that plagues our great country--drugs that are being smuggled from Mexico, Columbia etc? How are we handling this? The war on on illegal immigration? The war on poverty?

I really do hope that the aid the United States gives to Bohol will be used properly. This is coming from the expense of the tax paying American. Blood and sweat that was given to pay these taxes.

Please, Boholano politicians, do not take advantage of these funds. This money comes from the heart and hands of the HARD WORKING American citizen! Please use it wisely and with RESPECT and DECENCY!

DO NOT put it in your pockets! It belongs to the BOHOLANO PEOPLE not to you!

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B:) · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2008, 11:51:39 AM »

hahaha that last statement Bran, I was gonna post that one too, naunhan ko nimo dah.

Anyway I will still say it... AYAW INTAWN IBULSA kung kinsa tong makadawat!

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thegirlnextdoor · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2008, 11:15:38 PM »

Good evening all! I know long time and no speak but speak now! I have been busy with media affairs and of them being invited media to help assist and entertain the American specail visitors from the Million Organization.
We had a press breifing at Chatto hall held in the Provincail Capitol, and affter headed to eat lunch in ICM's prawn farm.
Then on our way to Inabanga to have a meeting with Municipal persons there. we were given a talk on weaving , Mangroves, and fishing.
We also walked down to the coastline in Inabanga and heard a talk on fishing and mangoves.
In on our way to Loboc via Sabayan we planted trees at a scrince center in the town of lar and had a choir performance from the LOboc youth choir and went on the riverboat we where we were served a buffet dinner and kicked up our heels along the newly lit up Loboc River and they had a good time.
The Millinium asked me if I would keep in touch with regarding sittuations here.
I told them I would do my best.
Darius Teter tried askiing directly too the community and not the municipality workers about education fishing, and weaving livelyhood but he complained that the municpalkity would but in and not let the people answer for themselves.
Other than that it was a good time.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=12408.0

benelynne · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2008, 05:31:53 AM »

Good evening all! I know long time and no speak but speak now! I have been busy with media affairs and of them being invited media to help assist and entertain the American specail visitors from the Million Organization.
We had a press breifing at Chatto hall held in the Provincail Capitol, and affter headed to eat lunch in ICM's prawn farm.
Then on our way to Inabanga to have a meeting with Municipal persons there. we were given a talk on weaving , Mangroves, and fishing.
We also walked down to the coastline in Inabanga and heard a talk on fishing and mangoves.
In on our way to Loboc via Sabayan we planted trees at a scrince center in the town of lar and had a choir performance from the LOboc youth choir and went on the riverboat we where we were served a buffet dinner and kicked up our heels along the newly lit up Loboc River and they had a good time.
The Millinium asked me if I would keep in touch with regarding sittuations here.
I told them I would do my best.
Darius Teter tried askiing directly too the community and not the municipality workers about education fishing, and weaving livelyhood but he complained that the municpalkity would but in and not let the people answer for themselves.
Other than that it was a good time.

Hi Precious,

As I understand it, Bohol has cleared the standards for "political and economic freedom, investments in education and health, control of corruption and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law" that's why it was granted this US aid fund.

No doubt your presence as a media watchdog has reckoned well with them. As an adopted citizen of Bohol, I hope you continue to pursue your mission with fervor, making sure such grants go where they should.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=12408.0

olintaha · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2008, 06:13:41 AM »

It is kind of the United States government to be sending economic aid to needy countries.
But even as we speak there are 40 million Americans who do not even have medical insurance.
Over 10 million American citizens live under the poverty level, including children.

There is a problem here. This country helps the world, but cannot even address the needs of its own citizens. There is a gigantic discrepancy here. Fighting a war of terrorism. What about the war on drugs that plagues our great country--drugs that are being smuggled from Mexico, Columbia etc? How are we handling this? The war on on illegal immigration? The war on poverty?

I really do hope that the aid the United States gives to Bohol will be used properly. This is coming from the expense of the tax paying American. Blood and sweat that was given to pay these taxes.

Please, Boholano politicians, do not take advantage of these funds. This money comes from the heart and hands of the HARD WORKING American citizen! Please use it wisely and with RESPECT and DECENCY!

DO NOT put it in your pockets! It belongs to the BOHOLANO PEOPLE not to you!

Like any other public funds, this U.S. Aid will be spent in accordance with the so called "standard operating procedure" or SOP for short. But you may not be aware that SOP has a different connotation here. It means the sharing scheme of how much will be actually spent and how much will go to kickbacks. What I heard is that the SOP now is 50-50. 50% kickback - 50% actual project. I was stunned to learn this when I happened to attend a barangay budgeting in our barangay. They openly discussed this SOP thing as if it is the SOP in the real sense of the word.

Ask your relatives here in Bohol about SOP and they will surely tell you what it is.
So for this U.S. Aid, S O P will apply.

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grazie7y · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2008, 06:24:40 AM »

Wow! What a shame! I don't think the MCC will take this Pinoy-style SOP! They should demand full accountability and transparency of this project, particularly how the fund is utilized and by whom in reference to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2008, 12:31:12 AM »

This 50-50 definition is degrading not only to the Boholano people but to the good-will of the intended aid. I agree with Ate Ging in that there needs to be complete accountability and transparency on the funds and how it is spent.

This is addressed to Priscilla: Are there American officials who observe the spending of USaid funds in Bohol? Or is it based on an 'Honor Code Policy' in which one side is expected to spend the fund for proper and intended purposes with hope and trust by the other side?

This so called 'Kick-back' concept is shameful. Absolutely shameful. Those who engage in it, may you be discovered and reprimanded! Have you no shame? Shame! Walay Batasan!

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=12408.0

olintaha · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2008, 07:03:47 AM »

The kick-back system is no secret. It's a public knowledge because it is part of our bureaucratic system. In fact, that's the reason why first-timer politicians invest so much for vote buying because of the ROI from the kick-back. And for the re-electionists, the kick-back is also their source of funds for vote buying.

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Lorenzo · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2008, 07:05:00 AM »

This is a violation of political science and political legitimacy. What a quagmire-ish system.

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olintaha · « **Reply #10 on:** May 22, 2008, 01:05:22 PM »

This is a violation of political science and political legitimacy. What a quagmire-ish system.

You're right. It's a quaggy thing.
As recent events have shown, Philippine election is a sham process that only appears to be a genuine contest ---- with all those expensive posters, radio and tv ads of candidates trying to outsmart each other ---- yet, behind the scene is the reality that candidate selection is based NOT on what you can give to public service, but rather on HOW MUCH YOU CAN GIVE TO THE PUBLICâ€™S SERVICE OF CHOOSING YOU. In fact, if we are to consider the reports of massive vote-buying in the past elections, plus the insinuations of the â€œhello Garci!â€ thing, the â€œKoko Pimentel â€“ Migz Zubiri issueâ€, and other electoral controversies, we may conclude that our election results only present the faÃ§ade of popular consent and support.

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thegirlnextdoor · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2008, 05:12:01 PM »

This is addressed to Priscilla: Are there American officials who observe the spending of USaid funds in Bohol? Or is it based on an 'Honor Code Policy' in which one side is expected to spend the fund for proper and intended purposes with hope and trust by the other side?

This so called 'Kick-back' concept is shameful. Absolutely shameful. Those who engage in it, may you be discovered and reprimanded! Have you no shame? Shame! Walay Batasan!

Lorenzo first of all congradulations on your graduation!

I was sort of confussed when you addressed me in the blog statement up above are you lamenting at me all those bisayan words?

I did not reply to this post to make anyone upset I just wanted to inform persons that yes tey went into the feild and they talked to people but they wanted to talk with the working class such as the ones who make a livelyhood from weaving crafts, and fishing and what not.

They were offended when the municipal workers cutt in on them during the answering process.
As if the fisherman could not speak and had to say that all things are great!

You and I both know how it works here the people with out money here are afraid to say whats on their mind for fear o trouble or possibly for fear of what others might think of them if they did speak their minds.

People here know things are bad lagi pero but they do nothing about it, the rich eat prawns and the lower echelon class of persons eat fish or chicken or scrape seashells out from the murky low tides.

I am pretty sure those organizations who are bright know that they must hatag the money via in projects.

I am not so sure myself who is the one to bantay such funds or what ever is being donated is really being put to use for its entirety and cause.

Lorenzo I was not negative or did i undermind the millinium when they were here. I was good in what I told them.

In my opinion education itself needs to be worked on. The teachers always complain that the students are not behaiving very good and it is hard to teach when they are always pressured to scold the makulit students who are not doing as told.

I wish I could write a book on what are the real going ons here.

Por vida if i do I will just be cursed for saying the honest to goodness truth.

AW.. now you know that was a joke as i am not afraid to ask questions such as the one I do when i give interveiws and they are questions other media will not ask.

Lorenzo again "Congtrats!"

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Author Topic: Bohol to be a beneficiary of US aid (Read 1687 times)

benelynne

Bohol to be a beneficiary of US aid

Lorenzo

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B:)

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thegirlnextdoor

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benelynne

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olintaha

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grazie7y

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Lorenzo

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olintaha

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Lorenzo

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olintaha

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thegirlnextdoor

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