Officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shared their insights during the conduct of a round table interview that was part of the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) Country Mission to the Philippines on March 21.

Serving as key resource speakers were Undersecretary for Operations Group Monina Josefina Romualdez, Assistant Secretary for External Assistance and Development Juan Carlo V. Marquez, Assistant Secretary for Policy and Plans Rodolfo M. Santos, Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) Irene B. Dumlao, and Assistant Secretary for Innovations Atty. Baldr H. Bringas.

Also sharing their insights during the vent were Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) National Program Manager, Director Bernadette A. Mapue-Joaquin; and Financial Management Service (FMS) Wayne C. Belizar.

The interview was conducted by the MCC delegation headed by Country Director Sarah Olmstead.

MCC is a foreign aid agency established by the U.S. Congress that provides time-limited grants promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, and strengthening institutions.

On December 13, 2023, the Philippines secured eligibility for a Second Threshold program under the MCC Grant covering the proposed areas of interest such as climate resilience, inclusivity, gender equality, and blended finance.

The partnership between the Philippines and the MCC started in 2010 through the five-year compact which aimed to address constraints to economic growth.

As part of the compact, MCC provided a grant to DSWD’s KALAHI-CIDSS Community-Driven Development Project to scale-up community-driven development (CDD) operations. #