The Trump administration has exempted the $336 million assistance for the modernization of Philippine security forces from its foreign aid freeze, according to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez.
Romualdez confirmed the exemption in a GMA News Online and welcomed the decision.
“We are pleased with this development. Another significant sign that our strong partnership and alliance with the United States remains intact,” he said.
The exemption comes after the US government, under President Donald Trump, lifted restrictions on $5.3 billion in foreign aid that had been previously halted.
Earlier this year, the US State Department ordered a temporary halt to all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid following Trump’s directive for a 90-day review of development aid programs. The move also led to administrative leave for staff of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs had sought clarification on which programs would be affected by the freeze.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stated that he could not yet comment on the situation, as official pronouncements on the US aid freeze remained unclear.
Both Manila and Washington are considering a future meeting between Marcos and Trump to discuss bilateral relations, following Marcos’ reaffirmation of the “strong and lasting” alliance between the two nations.
