Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (File photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The Philippines has decided to withdraw its application for the second cycle of assistance from the United States aid agency, Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), according to Malacañang.
“We have opted to withdraw from the second Millennium Challenge,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday. “We will focus instead on the rebuilding of Marawi.”
“This is temporary. We will apply again some other time,” Roque added.
He said the withdrawal of the Philippines’ application was made before the MCC makes its decision on the country’s grant.
“We are confident that the US government fully understands the decision to reallocate our funding priority for this year and that this will not, in any way, adversely impact our eligibility for another round of compact assistance in the future because it calls for counterpart financing as well,” Roque said. /atm