Monday, July 31, 2006 (Philippines)

THE PUBLIC GOOD. Wiser spending could enable government to build not just bridges, but better parks too. Sun.Star Photo/Allan Cuizon) GOVERNMENT’S fight against corruption may have received a P1-billion shot-in-the-arm from the United States, but it will take a three-cornered fight—involving the state, civil society and media watchdogs—to get the country out of the pit of irregularities in public spending. According to a July 27, 2006 report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the $25-million grant—coursed through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a program rewarding “countries that govern well”—was matched by a P1-billion counterpart fund put up by President Arroyo last month. [full story]