US commits P3 billion new aid to boost PH growth, security
Metro Manila, Philippines - The United States has pledged new foreign aid to the Philippines, the first since Washington reviewed and realigned foreign assistance at the beginning of the year.
The $60 million (roughly P3 billion) in fresh foreign assistance will focus on strengthening the country’s energy systems, maritime capabilities, and economic development initiatives, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced after a high-level meeting WITH President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Washington, D.C. on July 21.
This IS the first major foreign assistance package unveiled by the United States since the Trump Administration began a comprehensive review and realignment of foreign aid programs in January 2025.
The decision signaled Washington’s renewed emphasis on strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, with the Philippines playing a central role.
As part of the initiative, Rubio also announced the US Department of State’s intention to collaborate with the US Congress to allocate an additional P825 million ($15 million) specifically to support private sector development in the Luzon Economic Corridor. This corridor, which spans key industrial and logistics hubs in Northern and Central Luzon, is seen as vital to the country’s long-term economic competitiveness.
If approved by Congress, the P825-million package will support investments in transport, logistics, energy infrastructure, and the semiconductor sector - a move expected to generate high-quality jobs and stimulate inclusive economic growth.
Marcos' official visit to Washington this week included meetings with US President Donald Trump, Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The series of meetings reaffirmed what US officials described as the "ironclad commitment" to the alliance, a decades-long partnership built on shared democratic values, mutual defense, and growing economic cooperation.
In a joint statement, both governments emphasized the importance of strengthening maritime cooperation in the West Philippine Sea, increasing joint energy ventures, and expanding trade and investment opportunities across various sectors.
