The country can afford to “lose” a funding grant from the US-led Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), President Duterte declared yesterday as he again called on the Americans to “better start packing” as “we have China and Russia” anyway.

“We’ll be glad to lose it,” he said in an interview after addressing some 7,000 Filipinos at the Max Pavilion in Singapore Expo last night.

“And may I suggest that they start packing, maybe six months or so. We will not go hungry without the American aid,” he said.

“We are not that desperate, we can always get it from China and Russia.”

Duterte said the US was using development aid to force the Philippines and other countries into kowtowing to its wishes.

In Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the suspension of the funding grant should provide an “opportunity” for the country to “continue dialogue” with the US-led institution.

In a statement, the DFA noted the MCC’s move was just a deferment of a vote on the “reselection” of the Philippines for a second round of grant.

“The development of the Second Compact continues until the next board meeting in March 2017,” the DFA statement read.

“The Philippine government remains committed to the goals to foster good governance and the rule of law in the country, and will continue to engage the MCC board to ensure that accurate and updated information on government policies and programs are provided to its members,” the DFA stressed.

The DFA said it has been advised by the Philippine embassy in Washington regarding the MCC board’s decision.

“The MCC board had a wide discussion on its engagement with the Philippines, including the very positive performance in the First MCC Compact and the FY 2017 Scorecard, as well as on the current developments in the country,” the DFA said.

In Singapore, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. downplayed the effect of the MCC move on Philippine development.

“Now, according to our economic experts, the decision not to give us this assistance under the Millennium Challenge Corp. will not really have a great impact,” Yasay said.

He said the administration can always tap other countries for assistance, especially now that the Duterte administration has strengthened ties with its neighbors including China and Russia.

“But then again, this is what our economic experts say, we’re not really bothered by it, we will not be sleepless over this decision,” Yasay said.

He stressed the issues raised by the MCC in suspending the grant should be discussed objectively – including through diplomatic channels.

“I think in relating with countries, this matter can be best and effectively resolved if we talk without engaging propaganda or press prematurely in terms of trying to validate and verify these concerns,” he said.

“We have diplomatic post, the United States has very good assets and information gathering in the Philippines, insofar as verifying and validating these reports,” he said.

“They cannot just simply come up with decisions in the grant or non-grant of these assistance, on the basis of these unverified reports,” Yasay pointed out.

“And this is precisely the beef which we are taking against the United States, especially so that this has come soon immediately after we said we were going to realign our concept of an independent foreign policy where the paramount national interest will always be pursued,” he emphasized.

He maintained the Philippines would not be coerced into kowtowing to US position.

“But we would like to make sure that if this is a merely ploy, this is merely a tack, to be cowed out, bow down to their demands, we will not do so. If they don’t want to help us, then we’ll accept that,” he said.

“But we feel very strongly that as friends, this is not the tack that should be adopted,” the DFA chief stated.

“If they would really like to help us on the basis of our need, they should not impose this and give it to us rather, without any conditions,” he added.

“Unfortunately, especially in recent months, when the President has taken over as president, they had raised concerns about not granting because of alleged concerns with respect to again alleged violations of human rights, that they have based simply on unverified reports,” Yasay added.

He also said the MCC should reconsider its decision. “And we would hope that America would try to reconsider this. This has always been our appeal to America. Treat us with mutual respect and treat us a sovereign equal,” he said.