USAID assistance to RP hits $90 million

MANILA, Philippines - The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) anticipated development assistance to the Philippines for 2009 amounts to nearly $90 million in line with the priorities of the new US Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the Philippines for 2009-2013.

The USAID said the priority assistance goals during this period are accelerating growth through improved competitiveness; strengthening governance, the rule of law, and the fight against corruption; investing in people to reduce poverty; and promoting a peaceful and secure Philippines.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the USAID recently completed annual consultations on US assistance partnerships in support of Philippine development priorities. 

NEDA Assistant Director-General Rolando Tungpalan and USAID/Philippines mission director Jon Lindborg and key staff of the two organizations reviewed program accomplishments and plans for the coming year.

During the consultations, Tungpalan advised that the current Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) will end in 2010 but the Philippine government has mechanisms which allow for continued periodic validation of foreign assistance programs.

“NEDA is working on materials that would be a basis for recommendations for the next MTPDP so that when the next leaders come on board, they would be familiar with the strategies set for the next six years,” Tungpalan said. 

In his comments, Lindborg noted “…the long and productive US-Philippines bilateral relationship, not only through US assistance programs, but also through robust trade and investment linkages, people-to-people ties and security cooperation.” 

NEDA and USAID reviewed results achieved over the past year in the following program focus areas: governance, economic growth, environment and energy, health, education, and Mindanao peace and development.

The US remains the largest grant donor to the Philippines.   – Pia Lee Brago