Trump offers Philippines more aid to fight COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — United States President Donald Trump, in a phone call with President Duterte on Sunday, offered additional assistance to the Philippines as the country deals with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“President Trump expressed his solidarity and offered additional assistance to the Philippines as it continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic,” the US embassy said in a statement yesterday.

“Both leaders agreed to continue working together as long-time allies to defeat the pandemic, save lives and restore global economic strength,” it added.

Trump also expressed condolences for the death of 11 Filipino soldiers who were killed in a firefight with Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Patikul, Sulu on Friday.

“The two leaders also discussed how the United States and the Philippines can continue building upon the strong and enduring economic, cultural and security ties between the two nations,” the statement read.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Monday said Duterte and Trump talked about working together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roque said the US-initiated phone call came at 10:10 p.m. and lasted for 18 minutes.

Last week, the US provided an additional P66 million to combat the COVID-19 in the Philippines, bringing the total US government assistance to more than P203 million.

Through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US is coordinating with the Department of Health and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to control COVID-19 in the country and beyond.

“This US government support to the Philippine Department of Health for its COVID-19 response demonstrates our long-standing commitment to our Philippine friends, partners and allies in times of need,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said.

The US embassy in Manila said this assistance is the completion of the P203-million aid announced by the US Department of State on March 31.