MANILA- The Philippines will remain committed to the World Health Organization (WHO), Malacañang said Thursday as the global COVID-19 crisis continues.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque affirmed the Duterte administration's commitment to WHO, saying the Philippines is willing to contribute if necessary.

"As far as the Philippines is concerned, we stand committed to the WHO and we will give our contribution when the need arises," he said in a virtual press briefing.

Roque made the remark after the United States, the biggest funder of WHO, suspended funding to the United Nations body.

US President Donald Trump said he halted funding because the body covered up the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak in China before it spread around the world.

• Trump announces funding halt to World Health Organization

"It's not for the Philippine president to tell other presidents what to do pero tayo po suportado natin ang WHO (we still support WHO) dahil nakita naman po natin na kung walang WHO, wala pong namuno sa coordination dito sa laban natin dito sa sakit na COVID-19," Roque said.

(We saw that without the WHO, no one will lead the world's coordination on COVID-19.)

The Palace official also appealed to other countries to continue funding the WHO.

"Sana po lahat ng bansa ng daigdig ay ipagpatuloy ang kanilang koordinasyon sa WHO at importante din po ang pagbibigay ng pondo sa WHO," Roque said.

(I hope all countries will continue to coordinate with the WHO and it's also important to fund it.)

The Philippines as of Wednesday has recorded a cumulative 5,660 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 362 deaths, and 435 recoveries

Globally, COVID-19 has killed more than 100,000 people and infected over 1.8 million others, according to the WHO.