‘Philippines still largest recipient of US aid in Asia-Pacific’

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines remains the largest recipient of US military assistance in the Asia-Pacific region with $66 million in foreign funding in 2015.

Outgoing US Ambassador Philip Goldberg explained that other countries receive larger US assistance because these are “conflict” areas.

“Let’s remember that the Philippines is our largest recipient of military assistance in this region,” Goldberg said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart. 

Last year alone, he said the Philippines received $66 million in foreign military funding that helped purchase defense equipment. 

He noted that the US also provided $42 million to the Philippines out of $60 million total in the US maritime security initiative. 

“The Philippines was the largest recipient. Why? Because it’s our friend, our ally and because it has the need but the Philippines, if it wants its own defense capability, will have to spend more also,” he added.

The ambassador said the fundamentals of Philippine-US relationship are “very strong and solid,” but the President’s statements combined with insults and profane language he used against the US caused uncertainty in the relations.

He added that it would be a good step to sit down, constructively talk about what it is at issue, if there are problems, changes required and if there are things that the Philippine side wants.

“But right now we’re just dealing with the series of statements without the ability of Cabinet members to really fully explain or discuss,” Goldberg said.

Meeting canceled

Meanwhile, a scheduled meeting this month between the US and the Philippine military and defense planners on holding joint military exercises in the country next year has been canceled.

Military officials said the joint Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting has been canceled indefinitely.

“Originally, the meeting was set last Oct. 24 but was moved to Nov. 22 because we want the meeting to be held after the US elections.”

Earlier, the President had declared that under his term, he would no longer allow joint exercises of US and Filipino troops in the country.

But a source said the President’s statements have nothing to do with the postponement of the yearly engagements, which include the preparation and planning for next year’s Balikatan exercises, joint Amphibious Landing Exercises and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness Training.

The exercises include training on humanitarian and disaster response, which benefited the Philippines largely during the onslaught of killer Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas in 2013.

Sources also disclosed that to date, there is no concrete guidance from the President yet to terminate the joint war drills with the US.

In the absence of concrete guidance, both military and defense officials are still planning for next year’s bilateral exercises.

“We are crafting what would be agreeable for both of us (US and the Philippines Armed Forces) and this will be presented for approval by the President during a Cabinet meeting next month,” a source said. – With Jaime Laude