The Trump administration has exempted the financial assistance aimed at modernizing the Philippine military from its foreign aid freeze, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a message to reporters on Monday, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza confirmed that the Philippine government had been notified of the waiver.

“The Philippines has been informed of the waiver issued to a portion of the US foreign military financing for the Philippines,” Daza said.

“Both countries are committed to the treaty alliance and to efforts to further strengthen our defense cooperation and interoperability,” she added.

Daza said the Philippine government will continue to engage the US government on the “importance of our bilateral work in supporting our shared goals and priorities.”

According to a wire report, the Trump administration has authorized the release of $5.3 billion in previously frozen foreign aid, which includes $336 million for the modernization of the Philippine security forces.

Former US President Joe Biden’s administration had announced a $500-million grant to support the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard.