Lapu-Lapu gets P10 million grant from U.S.

American freedom rites held in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — The United States Embassy in the Philippines marked the United States of America’s 250th Freedom Anniversary in Cebu with Ambassador Lee Lipton, declaring Cebu a vital partner in strengthening security, expanding trade, and deepening cultural ties with the Philippines.

“This is an honor of a lifetime to be appointed by President Trump to serve my amazing country here with great friends in the Philippines,” Lipton told a packed ballroom at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa of dignitaries, business leaders, local officials and a select group of the press.

“Even though our team is based in Manila, every region of the Philippines is important. I’m so pleased to be in the Visayas again. Our relationship with the Philippines spans nearly one-half of America’s 250th-year history. Throughout that time, Cebu has been a strong, strong, strong partner to America.”

Lipton, joined by his wife Erika, led guests in a toast to America’s founding and the enduring friendship with the Filipino people.

He praised Cebu’s role as a hub for tourism, shipping, commerce, education, and industry, noting that U.S. companies have invested nearly $400 million in Cebu and the Visayas.

“We even selected Timex, a United States company here in Cebu, to make the watches for the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippines diplomatic relations,” he said, adding that he would visit Timex facilities the following day.

The ambassador drew laughter when he spoke of Filipino food making waves in America.

“Ube is the trendy new word in American restaurants and grocery stores these days. At my restaurant we make it Ube piña colada,” he said.

He recalled humanitarian efforts in Leyte under Pacific Partnership, where U.S. and Filipino teams provided healthcare to 1,400 residents and improved schools.

 “Just a few of the many examples where Americans and Filipinos achieved together to make both of our peoples safe, stronger, and prosperous. But we can do more. We want to do more. We will do more.”

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Andrelita Austria, speaking on behalf of Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, underscored the significance of the celebration as the Philippines also marks the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 75th anniversary of its alliance with the U.S.

“We are gathered here tonight because of the deep and enduring relationship between our countries. The U.S. remains our only treaty ally but our relationship goes far beyond defense and security,” Austria said.

She pointed to Cebu as a reflection of the partnership, with its growing number of American firms and vibrant creative tourism sector.

“For many generations American culture has been part of our own everyday experiences—in our education, our language, our music, our films, and even the way we engage with one another. At the same time Philippine culture has also found an increasingly warm and welcoming home in the United States,” Austria said.

Austria highlighted the Filipino diaspora of four million in the U.S. as a living bridge between the two nations.

The evening ended with cheers and applause, music, dances, marking not only America’s 250th year of independence but also reaffirming Cebu’s place at the heart of the Philippines-U.S. partnership.

Lapu-Lapu City gets grant

Meanwhile, the Lapu-Lapu City government has received ?10 million from the United States as the first tranche of a grant intended to strengthen its tuberculosis (TB) prevention, detection and treatment programs.

The initial funding was turned over during the visit of U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton to City Hall on Friday, October 16, 2026.

“We are here to fight against tuberculosis together, and here’s the best part: I am happy to announce that the United States is providing US$316,000 to the City Government of Lapu-Lapu to strengthen tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care,” Lipton said during the ceremony.

The ?10 million is part of a US$316,000 grant, equivalent to approximately ?19.9 million, under the Tuberculosis Implementation Framework Agreement (TIFA) and Health Commitment Grants.

The remaining amount will be released in succeeding tranches, subject to the city’s achievement of agreed program targets and milestones.

The initial funding will support the City Health Office’s efforts to improve TB detection and diagnosis, contact tracing and treatment, including access to essential medicines.

Lapu-Lapu City was selected as one of the grant recipients in the country because it is a highly urbanized city (HUC). Eight local government units (LGUs) are set to receive grants from the United States, including Mandaue City, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Zamboanga del Sur, Siquijor Province and Isabela Province, among others.

Lapu-Lapu City is serving as a pilot LGU for the program.

In an interview on Friday, October 16, City Health Office head Dr. Nelner Omus said the city had achieved several milestones under the program, including screening residents for TB, identifying cases, and providing treatment and preventive care.

Dr. Omus said the funding has enabled the city to actively identify people with asymptomatic TB and reach communities across the city to screen residents for early detection.

“With early detection, of course, comes early treatment, and with early treatment, we can curb the spread of the disease,” Omus said.

Based on figures provided by the City Health Office, the city’s broader TB initiatives reached 7,228 people through active case finding, 40,440 through intensified case finding and 1,602 through enhanced case finding during the program’s first six months of implementation. Contact investigations covered 2,098 people.

The city also recorded 183 diagnosed TB patients undergoing treatment and 231 people who received TB preventive treatment under these broader initiatives.

The program aims to improve access to TB services across Lapu-Lapu, including in mainland and island barangays.

“We were going around the city, visiting each of the barangays and our communities, especially our island barangays and islets. Through this grant, we were able to reach the people. We don’t wait for them to come to us; we bring the diagnostics to them,” Omus said.

Using the ?10-million grant, the City Health Office purchased equipment, including a mobile X-ray van and cartridges, and hired personnel such as radiologists, radiologic technologists, TB navigators and nurses.

Omus said TB remains among the top 10 causes of morbidity and mortality in Lapu-Lapu City.

However, she said the city had achieved a treatment success rate of more than 90%.

Omus added that the grant had helped increase active case finding, allowing the city to intensify its efforts to meet its TB case notification targets.

“Gi-welcome gyud ni nato siya because this is one of the strategies that we can really use to stop the spread of TB,” Omus said.

Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan thanked the U.S. government for the assistance and recognized the roles of the Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas and local healthcare workers in implementing the city’s TB prevention and treatment programs.

King-Chan said the grant was important for both mainland and island barangays, where diagnostic services could now reach communities that might otherwise face difficulties accessing medical facilities and receiving timely care because of distance.

“As we continue to build a progressive and resilient city, we remain committed to a health system that responds to the needs of our people,” King-Chan said.

Lipton, who was accompanied by his wife, Erika Lipton, was welcomed by barangay health workers during the visit.

Also present were Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Junard “Ahong” Chan, Vice Mayor Dr. Celsi Sitoy, members of the City Council, DOH Central Visayas Regional Director Dr. Joshua Brillantes, city health personnel and representatives of the U.S. Embassy.

DOH-7 Director Dr. Brillantes said international cooperation between the Philippines and the United States in combating infectious diseases is significant, noting that tuberculosis remained one of the leading infectious diseases affecting Filipinos.

“With this grant, it will be piloted here in Lapu-Lapu how early detection, active case finding and treatment should really start, and even post-exposure prophylaxis,” Brillantes said.

Brillantes said tuberculosis remained among the leading causes of death in Central Visayas. -/LPM