Exclusive: DFA chief hopes for more US aid exemption

Metro Manila, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo welcomed the United States government's decision to exempt a portion of its foreign military funding for the Philippines.

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Manalo said the aid exemption would benefit the country.

"Certainly, this is something that we welcome since we benefit from that," he said.

Manalo noted that the aid exemption was briefly discussed in "broader terms" during his recent meeting with US State Secretary Marco Rubio in Germany.

"We talked more on general terms, but he did mention to me regarding some of the pronouncements that the US is discontinuing. He said there's always a possibility of exception, so we leave it at that," he added.

When asked if he hoped more aid would be covered by the exemption, he responded: "Definitely. During my meeting with Secretary Rubio, we discussed that we will expand cooperation not just [government-to-government] but also economic cooperation."

The Philippines has been informed of the Trump administration’s decision to continue foreign military financing for Manila. Washington’s move, despite a foreign aid freeze policy, means the Philippines stands to receive $336 million (roughly P19.4 billion) in military assistance.

“The Philippines has been informed of the waiver issued to a portion of the US foreign military financing for the Philippines,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

The Biden administration had previously pledged $500 million (P28.91 billion) under the Philippines-Security Sector Assistance Roadmap.

“Both countries are committed to the treaty alliance and to efforts to further strengthen our defense cooperation and interoperability. We will continue to engage the US government on the importance of our bilateral work in supporting our shared goals and priorities,” the DFA added.

According to a Reuters report, a list of 243 additional exemptions approved as of Feb. 13 amounts to $5.3 billion (P306.5 billion). Most of these funds are allocated to the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which oversees arms sales and military assistance to foreign nations and organizations.

Security exemptions include $870 million (roughly P50.33 billion) for programs in Taiwan, $336 million (P19.4 billion) for modernizing Philippine security forces, and over $21.5 million (P1.24 billion) for body armor and armored vehicles for Ukraine’s national police and border guards.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez welcomed the decision, confirming Washington’s move in a text message to NewsWatch Plus.

"We are pleased with this development. It’s another sign that our strong partnership with the US remains intact," he said.