The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corp. announced Thursday it has put off a decision on whether to allow the Philippines to continue developing its second compact with the bilateral aid agency at a later date. The move came amid rising concerns internationally about the Philippine government’s commitment to the rule of law and human rights.
“This decision reflects the board’s significant concerns around rule of law and civil liberties in the Philippines,” said U.S. Embassy in the Philippines spokeswoman Molly Koscina in an emailed statement to Agence France-Presse.
Koscina did not elaborate on the decision and only said that the agency will “continue to monitor unfolding events in the Philippines” while emphasizing MCC’s strict eligibility criteria, which includes a country’s “demonstrated commitment to the rule of law, due process and respect for human rights.”
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
