US to give Philippines $250 million to tackle health needs
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration plans to give the Philippines an additional $250 million to address tuberculosis, maternal health and the threat of emerging diseases, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.
The move follows $63 million announced amid US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House in July, he added, citing Mr. Trump’s new direct foreign aid approach following the shuttering of USAID and other foreign assistance pipelines.
The latest aid demonstrates “the comprehensive bond between the United States and the Philippines” and “the efficient, time-limited, and narrowly targeted approach of this new era of America First foreign assistance,” Mr. Rubio said in a statement.
The Philippine embassy in Washington said it appreciates this announcement but had no further comment.
Under Mr. Trump, the administration has sought to withhold billions in foreign aid dollars authorized by Congress as part of the president’s effort to scale back US assistance abroad under his “America First” agenda.
Even so, US lawmakers in Congress — controlled by Trump’s fellow Republicans — have budgeted billions in foreign aid, with $11 billion facing a September 30 deadline to be spent.
Trump’s administration, after being sued, said it intended to spend $6.5 billion of the funds. Its bid to block another $4 billion is before the US Supreme Court. — Reuters
