Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, however, said in state-run Philippine News Agency report that the withdrawal from the application for the grant was for policy independence. Not getting the grant from the MCC is not a loss for the country as various countries, such as Japan, China and South Korea continue to fund the Philippines, Diokno also said. Despite the withdrawal, Roque said the Philippines hopes that the "Americans can and still contribute towards the rebuilding of Marawi in some other ways." The US agency also noted the Philippines' withdrawal from the aid package. The first grant of the MCC to the Philippines, which was implemented from May 2011 to May 2016, was worth P434 million.

Source: Philippine Star December 21, 2017 02:37 UTC