The United States has committed ₱13.8 billion ($250 million) in fresh assistance to the Philippines aimed at strengthening health systems, improving disease response, and expanding maternal and child health programs, according to a statement from the US Embassy.
This announcement follows the earlier ₱3 billion ($63 million) package unveiled during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington in July. Together, the two aid packages now bring total recent commitments to more than ₱17 billion ($313 million).
Assistant State Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Jonathan Fritz explained that while Washington has trimmed foreign aid allocations under Trump’s revamped policy, the Philippines remains a priority partner. “The Philippines, as a key American ally in the Indo-Pacific, is at the forefront of this realignment,” Fritz said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the funding highlights both the “comprehensive bond between the United States and the Philippines” and the new “time-limited, narrowly targeted” approach to assistance under the America First framework.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson echoed this, saying: “Together, we are building a healthier, more resilient future. This funding underscores the United States’ unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of the Filipino people and demonstrates our long-term partnership in addressing shared challenges.”
According to the embassy, the support will focus on critical programs such as tuberculosis prevention, global health security, maternal and child care, and nutrition. The US Embassy’s Foreign Assistance Section will take the lead in rolling out these initiatives across key priority areas.
