Aid freeze, entry squeeze tracked
The aid freeze that the US might impose is not permanent. He also explained that the Philippines receives regular aid from the US.
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The aid freeze that the US might impose is not permanent. He also explained that the Philippines receives regular aid from the US.
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The start of the second administration of President Donald Trump has kept the Philippine government busy monitoring the effects of his slew of controversial policies on the country and Filipino immigrants in the United States.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was closely monitoring reports on the possible freezing of US foreign assistance worldwide.
The government is working with the US Department of State to determine how this would affect the country, according to a Palace statement.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order halting foreign development assistance for 90 days pending a review of the efficiencies and consistencies in his foreign policy.
According to reports, emergency food aid and military funding for Israel and Egypt were exempted from the emerging policy.
In a news forum on Saturday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the “aid freeze” that the US might impose would not be permanent. He explained that the Philippines receives regular aid from the US.
“There is a regular aid that they provide but we’re still talking to the Americans about that, so I can’t give the exact data. But freezing is not a permanent scene,” he said.
De Vega emphasized that while the US is planning to suspend aid to other countries, the Philippines still has multiple economic partners.
“While the US involvement in our economy as a trading partner is still very high, I think even with the freeze it’s not like it’s going to severely affect us because their assistance for us is small, [about] eight packages right now,” he said.
De Vega further explained that the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) sites in the country are not related to the aid packages that the US gives to the Philippines.
“No, I wouldn’t… I don’t… it’s not part of that aid package that we’re talking about. Meaning, they will not remove it, it will continue… they will not suddenly abandon the EDCA sites,” he said.
De Vega said the US knows the importance of the EDCA sites to their interests as well as the Philippines’.
The DFA also advised undocumented Filipinos living in the United States to keep a low profile.
De Vega made the comment as he allayed the fears of Filipinos in the US. He clarified the earlier statements made by Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez after President Trump’s electoral win.
