The Philippines is set to receive a share of the United States’ newly announced USD55 million (around P3.2 billion) maritime security funding for the Indo-Pacific, according to the US Department of State.
The allocation, unveiled on September 24 at the UN General Assembly in New York, aims to strengthen the ability of partner countries—including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Pacific Islands, and select South Asian states—to confront illicit activities at sea. The program is designed to boost their capacity to counter illegal fishing, maritime trafficking, and other violations of sovereign rights.
The announcement came during the ministerial meeting on “Reinforcing Cooperation to Achieve a Secure and Stable Maritime Domain,” co-hosted by the US with the Philippines and several other nations. Forty countries participated in the high-level talks.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro urged participating states to uphold international law and deepen maritime cooperation. Meanwhile, US State Secretary Marco Rubio emphasized the need for a united front in safeguarding global sea lanes. He directly called out China’s “expansive and unlawful maritime claims” in the South China Sea and its “destabilizing” enforcement actions.
Rubio also highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation, overflight, and unhindered commerce. In a separate post on X, he wrote: “Discussed critical maritime security issues with my counterparts at the UN today. A free, open Indo-Pacific is vital to global trade and security. Together, we’re building a coalition to safeguard these principles.”
