MALACAÑANG WELCOMES PH EXEMPTION FROM US FOREIGN AID FREEZE

THE Philippines expressed elation on Tuesday after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that the United States has exempted its security aid to the Philippines from the current pause on global foreign aid.

“Natutuwa po tayo na nagkaroon nga po ng direktiba si US President (Donald) Trump na 90 days magkakaroon ng ipi-freeze ang foreign aid,” Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

“Kung nagkaroon po tayo ng exemption at nagkaroon po tayo at ibibigay po at iri-release ang 500 million dollars foreign financing sa atin, ito po ay napakalaking bagay at nagpapasalamat po tayo sa suporta na iyan,” she said.

Castro said the exemption indicated the US had not wavered its defense commitment to the Philippines.

The Palace official said that the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is proceeding as planned, with the administration emphasizing the importance of financial support from the US.

On Monday, the DFA confirmed that the US has exempted its security assistance to the Philippines, informing Manila that they are waiving a portion of its foreign military financing.

Last year, the US announced a grant of assistance worth US$500 million for the AFP modernization and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The US State Department suspended nearly all foreign assistance globally last month after President Trump issued an executive order to pause it for 90 days.