Daven Tamayo

DOH chief says effect of US aid freeze to PH 'very minimal'

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

The Department of Health is confident that the temporary halt on foreign aid by the United States will not have much impact on the Philippines.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier announced the Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze while a 90-day review is underway. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said US programs supporting the Philippines on combatting HIV and Tuberculosis will be affected by the move. However, he assured that alternative funding is available. “I think very minimal sa atin. In fact, when President Trump started to clamp down on international aid, luckily, nag-uumpisa na ako ng multilateral arrangements with other middle-income countries,” he said in a chance interview on the sidelines of the National Immunization Summit 2025 Thursday, January 30. Those that will be greatly affected by the aid freeze are African countries and other low-income nations, according to Herbosa. “Hindi na kasi tayo dependent sa America. Hindi na tayo grant-receiving country kasi middle-income country na tayo,” he noted. Should the US decide to officially pull out its foreign aid, the DOH chief said funding can be sourced from the agency’s budget or loans from international financial institutions. “There is some effect but… masasalo ko with the budget that the President is giving me, I think masasalo natin ‘yan and with the benefits we’re increasing in PhilHealth,” Herbosa said. “Papalitan ko lang ng funds from the local budget and I’ll ask from the President and our legislature,” he added.Herbosa is also looking into tapping other ally countries such as Australia, South Korea, and Japan. “Saka may iba pang bansa. Hindi lang sila ang bansa sa mundo. There are 194 countries… madaling humanap ng ibang friends,” he said.

The Department of Health is confident that the temporary halt on foreign aid by the United States will not have much impact on the Philippines.

The Department of Health is confident that the temporary halt on foreign aid by the United States will not have much impact on the Philippines.