U.S. earmarks P3B aid for PH, 1st since aid pause

PH-US ALLIANCE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C. on Monday (July 21, 2025). Aside from Rubio, Marcos also met with U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during the Philippine President’s three-day official visit in Washington. (Photo courtesy: US Embassy in the Philippines)

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency

The United States government has allocated approximately P3 billion ($60 million) in foreign assistance to the Philippines, the first such announcement to any country since the US paused most of its foreign aid commitments in January.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila confirmed on Wednesday that the funding, coursed through the US Department of State, will support programs in energy, maritime security, and economic growth in the Philippines.

The aid announcement comes after the meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C., on July 21.

“This is the U.S. government’s first announcement of new foreign assistance for any country since the Trump Administration began its review and realignment of foreign assistance in January,” the embassy said in a statement.

The State Department, meanwhile, announced its intention to work with the U.S. Congress to allocate P825 million ($15 million) of the total funding to catalyze private sector development in the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC).

If approved, this would support investments in transport, logistics, energy, and semiconductors in Luzon.

The Philippines, U.S., and Japan launched the LEC in April 2024 to back development in Luzon, with the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Cargo Railway as its flagship project.

Under LEC, the three countries commit to accelerating coordinated investments in high-impact infrastructure projects, including port modernization, clean energy, semiconductor supply chains and deployments, agribusiness, and civilian port upgrades at Subic Bay.

The embassy said Marcos’ meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, Rubio, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington, D.C. this week “reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Alliance and advanced closer economic ties between the two nations.”

Popular

ICI follows evidence, not manipulated for political gain —Palace told Escudero, VP Sara

By Brian Campued The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) remains “independent” and only follows evidence and is not controlled for political gain amid its probe...

PBBM to LVGP officials: Serve the people, provide concrete solutions

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administered the oath of office to 70 newly-elected and appointed officials of the League of Vice...

ICI recommends raps vs. Co, DPWH officials over Mindoro flood control ‘lapses’

By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Monday submitted an initial interim report and recommendation to the Office...

Ex-PNP chief appointed as ICI special adviser, investigator

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Not long after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong filed his resignation as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and...