The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Friday ordered an inventory of all related initiatives and projects that might be affected by the United States foreign aid freeze.
The order came after US President Donald Trump temporarily suspended all the country’s foreign assistance programs for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether they align with his administration’s policy goals.
“The OCD acknowledges and respects the pronouncements made by the current US administration,” OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said.
The OCD chief ordered OCD Deputy Director for Administration Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV and Deputy Administrator for Operations Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio to identify and assess any projects that may be affected by Trump’s directive, including changes in funding and policy adjustments.
The officials were also told to recommend ways to continue implementing the concerned projects, address challenges, and identify opportunities for optimization.
From 2001 to 2023, the US government, through USAID, disbursed at least $2.81 billion to the Philippines, based on data from the US State Department. However, the USAID website estimates that total assistance since 1961 amounts to nearly $5 billion. Partial records also indicate that $180 million was allocated to the Philippines in 2024.
In 2023 alone, USAID provided $198 million to support various projects and initiatives in the country, making the Philippines the second-largest recipient of USAID funding in the East Asia and Oceania region, following Myanmar. The funding primarily supported projects related to health and population, governance, and education, among other areas.